AMD has crossed the 30% mark in the x86 client CPU market for the first time, driven by growth in notebook processors, signalling a significant shift in the competitive landscape against Intel amid broader industry pressures.
AMD has passed the 30% mark in the x86 client CPU market for the first time, according to Mercury Research, as gains in notebook chips helped lift its combined desktop and mobile share against Intel. The firm said AMD accounted for 30.3% of x86 client shipments in the second quarter, compared with Intel’s 69.7%, up sharply from 21.1% two years ago. Mercury Research president Dean McCarron said client share covers desktop and mobile processors only.
The numbers suggest AMD’s progress is no longer confined to desktop parts. In the same quarter, the company held 34.9% of desktop x86 shipments and 28.9% of mobile shipments, indicating that notebook adoption is increasingly supporting its overall share. Tom’s Hardware previously reported that AMD’s unit share was nearing 30% in late 2025, driven by a stronger desktop line-up and a more competitive mobile portfolio.
Intel still dominates the consumer PC market, but the balance is shifting gradually as AMD also builds strength in other segments. Tom’s Hardware reported that AMD’s server CPU revenue share reached 46.2% in the first quarter of 2026, underlining the wider competitiveness of its processor range. At the same time, Mercury Research said Arm-based client CPUs from Apple, Qualcomm and MediaTek are becoming a more visible presence in laptops, with Arm-inclusive client share reaching 15.3% in the second quarter, a new high.
Even so, the broader PC market remains under pressure. Mercury Research said desktop x86 shipments fell by more than 20% year on year in the second quarter, which it described as “ugly”. The firm linked the decline to higher PC prices and tight GPU supply, echoing earlier reporting by PC World that desktop CPU shipments had dropped by nearly 20% in the first quarter as rising component costs pushed buyers to delay upgrades.
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