In a significant shift within the processor market, AMD has secured a record 32.6% share of the x86 processor segment, effectively taking one-third of the market from its rival Intel, which now holds 67.4%. These developments come amidst a broader decline in CPU shipments, with overall sales dropping by 6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to Mercury Research.
Despite the overall downturn, AMD has managed to capitalize on Intel's production limitations and chip shortages, particularly in the server processor segment where its market share rose to 33.2%, up from 27.2% a year earlier. This surge is attributed to a marked increase in shipments of AMD server processors, while Intel's supply levels have remained relatively stagnant.
On the desktop front, however, the situation is more complex. Although AMD's market share increased by 5.1 percentage points year-on-year, it fell by 3.2 points compared to the previous quarter, as Intel's share grew to 66.8%. Analysts attribute this decline to weak early-year demand for AMD processors, as many consumers had preemptively stocked up on components, anticipating price hikes.
Intel's challenges are notably pronounced in the mobile processor segment, where a shift of production capacity towards server processors has resulted in a shortage of desktop and laptop CPUs. Consequently, Intel's market share in mobile x86 processors has decreased to 71.7%, while AMD has expanded its presence to 28.3%, up from 22.5% last year.
The ARM architecture is also gaining traction, now accounting for 14.4% of the market in client computers, with server processors featuring ARM cores seeing a twofold increase in sales compared to the previous year.
These market dynamics signal a crucial turning point for AMD and its competitors. As AMD continues to gain ground amidst Intel's supply challenges, the landscape for CPU manufacturers is set for further transformation, potentially reshaping competitive strategies across the industry.
Informational material. 18+.
