A fast-rising PC maker in China is rapidly gaining ground — and you’ve probably never come across its name before. iSoftStone, which has mostly been known within China’s business and government sectors, is now making waves in the PC industry and could soon overtake Apple and HP to become the second-largest PC vendor in the country.
iSoftStone’s growth is turning heads
In just one year, iSoftStone more than doubled its PC shipments. According to a new report from research firm Canalys, the company shipped 0.89 million PCs in Q1 2025 — up from 0.42 million in Q1 2024. That’s a 111% jump, placing it firmly among the top players in China’s PC market.
As of now, iSoftStone has a 10% market share. This puts it just behind Huawei, which holds 12%, but ahead of Apple at 8% and HP at 7%. While you won’t find iSoftStone computers in shops overseas, its rapid growth is drawing global attention—especially as its gaming products begin to shine.
iSoftStone’s success isn’t accidental. Its roots in the business world have helped it grow, particularly through sales to schools and government bodies — areas that continue to benefit from state support. While private sector spending has been flat, the public and education sectors have kept up with demand, giving iSoftStone a stable building platform.
Focus on gaming and education fuels the rise
The company is also tapping into China’s growing demand for gaming PCs. This category grew 24% over the past year, especially among high-end models. iSoftStone’s offerings in this area are helping it reach younger, tech-savvy buyers who demand powerful hardware.
Even though the overall PC market in Mainland China is expected to stay flat this year, certain areas continue to grow. Small businesses and public institutions are forecast to see modest growth — 4% and 1%, respectively — and iSoftStone is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend.
Emma Xu, Senior Analyst at Canalys, explained: “Mainland China’s PC landscape has evolved significantly over the past two years, shaped by a more competitive environment for domestic brands. Consumer-focused Chinese vendors such as iSoftStone, Huawei, Honor, and Xiaomi reported growth in Q1 2025, gaining share at the expense of traditional commercial heavyweights like Lenovo, HP, and Dell.”
Will Huawei stand in its way?
While iSoftStone is rising quickly, it may still face stiff competition. Huawei recently announced new HarmonyOS-powered PCs in May, which could pose a major challenge. HarmonyOS aims to offer something different by combining Huawei’s phones, PCs, and AI tools. If successful, this could change the game and slow iSoftStone’s rise.
Xu noted, “While Huawei faces an uphill battle to drive consumer and developer adoption, its long-standing strength in mobile and a new focus on AI could help HarmonyOS reshape the PC market in the longer term.”
At the moment, iSoftStone remains focused on the Chinese market. However, it does have international experience, including involvement in a major data centre project in Singapore. If the company decides to go global, it could shake up the PC industry beyond China’s borders.
As more consumers and companies look for reliable alternatives in a market long dominated by familiar names, iSoftStone’s progress is one to watch — especially if it brings its blend of business know-how and gaming ambition to a wider audience.
