Gartner: Apple M2 chips will hit Microsoft’s Windows market share

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Apple’s new laptops based on its own M2 chipset are capable of causing significant damage to the business of Microsoft; which traditionally dominates the niche of operating systems. As Apple computers become more popular, Windows’ market share could shrink significantly.

Apple already introduced Mac series based on the M1 chipset in 2020, and last week saw the premiere of the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro based on the more energy-efficient and powerful Apple M2 chipset.

According to Gartner expert Mikako Kitagawa; thanks to the M2, Apple will continue to win back share in the computer market. If in 2021, in terms of the number of operating systems used, Apple accounted for 7.9% of computer shipments against 81.8% of computers with Windows, then in 2026, according to Gartner forecasts, the company’s share will increase to 10.7%, and the share of models with Windows will fall up to 80.5%. In the coming weeks, a new Gartner forecast should appear, in which Apple’s numbers should change upwards.

The emergence of Apple M2 chips will hit Microsoft’s business in the operating system market

The second wind to Apple’s computer business is given by the use of its own hardware developments instead of Intel processors. The company introduced the first MacBook Air on its own chipset last year; after which the updated iMac, Mac Mini and MacBook Pro models appeared, as well as the new Mac Studio. New products are more economical and productive than previous versions of the same series on Intel processors.

At the same time, sales of the company in the Mac niche grew by 23% in fiscal 2021 to more than $ 35 billion. In the “March” quarter, Mac sales grew by more than 14%, growth was much higher than in any other Apple category. CEO Tim Cook said the incredible customer response to the M1 resulted in a 15% year-over-year increase in sales despite supply chain disruptions.

However, most of the revenue coming from Windows, Microsoft receives from manufacturers like Dell, HP, Lenovo and other market leaders. This segment accounts for 7.5% of Microsoft’s revenue and almost 11% of net income. According to experts, if Microsoft continues to lose market share, it will also lose control over pricing in it. The company receives most of its revenue from commercial customers.

At the same time, experts argue that there is a direct relationship between the preferences of ordinary buyers; and what software is used at work; most of those who have started using the new working environment at home begin to promote its use at work. We are talking, among other things, about those who make decisions about the purchase of equipment and software.