These included desktops, tablets, notebooks and workstations, with notebooks being the best performer, recording a 27% rise year-on-year. Desktop shipments grew by 23%, but tablets remained stagnant, with a drop of 1%.

“It is clear now that pandemic-related use cases will extend well into the future,” said Canalys research analyst Brian Lynch. “This points toward a significant refresh opportunity in the future – fantastic news for PC vendors and their channel and ecosystem partners.

"The commercial and education segments have exploded, triggering tremendous refresh potential. The US economy has bounced back well from its pandemic woes and small businesses are recovering, which will lead to a wave of purchasing from the segment.”

Apple was second even though it saw a 3% decline and was the only vendor to experience a drop in shipments. The tablet market slowed after a spike in 2020.

The resurgence of COVID-19 in the US through the Delta variant had solidified the long-term strategy of many companies to support hybrid working models, Canalys said, adding that many workers preferred to remain at home.

This would increase the dependency on devices, bolstering commercial refresh opportunities.

Though American schools are expected to continue in-person education in the the 2021/2022 school year, Canalys said this would not hinder the refresh opportunity in the US as educational trends point to PCs being a vital part of the classroom.

Blended learning, hybrid models and online courses are set to be a mainstay in the US with education now transitioning to a replacement market for PCs and the mass procurement seen in 2020 and 2021 is expected to begin its refresh cycle in 2023.

“The US PC industry is set for a bright future. Whether it be work, school or leisure at home, PCs are in users’ hands more than ever. The integration of devices into everyday life points toward a rosy future for the market,” said Lynch.