Tracking Market Conditions

PC Market Trends, Windows 11 Adoption Challenges and the ITAD Opportunity

As of early 2025, the global PC installed base is estimated at 1.6 billion units, with the U.S. accounting for around 240 million. Despite Microsoft’s push, Windows 10 remains dominant (62.7% market share), while Windows 11 adoption lags due to strict hardware requirements and high upgrade costs. Many businesses face the choice of replacing hardware, […] Continue reading below.
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As of early 2025, the global PC installed base is estimated at 1.6 billion units, with the U.S. accounting for around 240 million. Despite Microsoft’s push, Windows 10 remains dominant (62.7% market share), while Windows 11 adoption lags due to strict hardware requirements and high upgrade costs. Many businesses face the choice of replacing hardware, paying for extended Windows 10 security updates, or risking unsupported systems. Meanwhile, the secondary PC market, valued at over $30 billion, continues to grow as enterprises offload older but functional devices. With Windows 10 support ending in late 2025, pressure to upgrade is increasing, but many organizations remain hesitant due to cost and limited benefits.

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Analyst/Author: David Daoud | Analyst

David Daoud has researched the mainstream IT hardware market since 1996 and expanded into hardware disposition research in 2003. He has spearheaded the creation of IDC’s GRADE certification. Since then, David has been providing consulting and expert advice to companies looking to establish best practice in their IT equipment decommissioning and helped leading ITAD service providers assess demand, understand competition, and forecast what’s to come. David is currently the Principal Analyst at Compliance Standards, which focuses entirely on the end-of-life of IT equipment. He can be reached at 508-981-6937 or at ddaoud@compliance-standards.com
What is Google telling us about the secondary market for IT and electronics?

What is Google telling us about the secondary market for IT and electronics?

Google’s Certified Refurbished Phone Program highlights a growing trend of OEMs entering the secondary market to control ecosystems, brand perception, and margins. This move disrupts traditional IT asset resale channels, creating challenges for ITAD vendors while underscoring the economic potential of refurbished IT assets. ITADs must adapt by focusing on premium services like ESG reporting and secure data handling to thrive in this evolving landscape.

Analysis: Sage Expands Beyond ITAD, Breaks into the Break-Fix Market

On October 22, 2024, Sage Sustainable Electronics (Sage) issued a press release via Businesswire to announce its acquisition of an electronics repair firm called Relectro. This acquisition is somewhat unique in Sage’s context because Relectro does not operate in Sage’s traditional ITAD space. It offers board-level and post-warranty repair for devices like laptops, tablets, and mobile handsets, which means that it operates in a stage that precedes Sage’s typical involvement. As such, we perceive this acquisition as a pathway for Sage to expand upstream in the ITAM sector.

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