AMD’s processor business is accelerating, but Intel remains the undisputed leader in nearly every segment of the CPU market. New data reveals that AMD’s total x86 market share—excluding embedded and IoT chips—reached 29.2% in the final quarter of 2025, up 4.5 percentage points from the same period last year. While this growth is notable, Intel still holds a dominant position, controlling the majority of shipments across desktops, laptops, and servers.
Yet the story isn’t uniform. AMD’s gains are most pronounced in the desktop space, where its market share jumped 9.5% to 36.2%, nearly matching Intel’s performance. The company’s server division, powered by fifth-generation Epyc processors (codenamed Turin), also delivered a standout performance, accounting for over 50% of AMD’s server revenue for the first time. This shift reflects a broader trend: data centers are increasingly favoring AMD’s high-core-count designs over Intel’s offerings.
Intel’s struggles stem from deliberate production adjustments earlier in the year. The company reallocated manufacturing capacity toward server chips, leaving desktop and mobile segments undersupplied. As a result, Intel saw sharp declines in both mobile and desktop shipments, falling well below seasonal expectations. Meanwhile, AMD capitalized on this gap, particularly in desktops where its Ryzen 8000 series and Threadripper processors gained traction among enthusiasts and content creators.
Looking ahead, both companies are preparing for 2026 launches, with AMD’s Zen 6 architecture and Intel’s Nova Lake platform on the horizon. However, industry analysts warn that memory shortages and rising DRAM costs could dampen overall CPU shipments in the first half of the year, delaying any major shifts in market dynamics.
Key Market Shifts and What They Mean
The data underscores a fragmented landscape
- Desktop: AMD’s 36.2% share is the closest it’s been to Intel in years, driven by strong performance in gaming and productivity workloads.
- Mobile: Intel still leads, but AMD’s Ryzen Mobile chips are gaining in ultra-thin laptops and 2-in-1 devices.
- Server: AMD’s Epyc Turin processors are now a top choice for cloud providers, with over 50% of revenue coming from this segment.
- Overall: The x86 market saw a rare sequential decline in Q4 2025, bucking the usual holiday-driven surge.
For consumers, the competition translates to more choice in desktops but limited options in laptops and servers. Businesses, however, are seeing AMD as a viable alternative to Intel in high-density computing environments. The next major battleground will likely be 2026, when both companies roll out their next-gen architectures—but memory constraints may slow momentum until then.
What’s Next for AMD and Intel
AMD’s momentum in desktops and servers suggests it’s making inroads where it matters most: performance and efficiency. Intel, meanwhile, faces pressure to stabilize its production pipeline, especially as data centers continue to drive demand. With both companies eyeing 2026 launches, the real question is whether Zen 6 and Nova Lake can deliver the performance needed to sustain—or reverse—the current trends.
