IDC: PC Market Records Another Quarter of Positive Growth

Global PC shipments grew 2.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 65.6 million units, according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. Despite deteriorating macroeconomic conditions and memory shortage issues, the PC market recorded another quarter of positive growth, mostly fueled by the anticipation of rising component prices, Windows 10 migration, and new product introductions.

“As expected, 2026 will be characterized by market share shifts,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “The strength of every PC vendor’s supply chain and ability to access core components, such as memory, will be tested. IDC believes that demand will be met by PC vendors who have best secured access to memory and with a device portfolio capable of addressing all price tiers of the market.”

While recording positive growth in this first quarter of 2026, the component shortages and deteriorating economic conditions have started to impact the PC market, as illustrated by a sharp decline in growth trends in every region. IDC believes that the remainder of the year will see further decline in PC shipments as system prices continue to rise.

“The Middle East conflict has injected a fresh layer of volatility into a fragile computing devices market, straining global logistics through a double-edged sword of rising energy costs and freight spikes,” said Isaac Ngatia, senior research analyst, IDC Devices Research. “On one hand, sea corridors continue to face ongoing disruption, especially ones connecting Asia and EMEA, on the other, pivoting to air freight has become more expensive. Ultimately, these premiums are trickling down the value chain, intensifying the pricing pressure of PCs on the end-users.”

IDC declares a statistical tie in the Personal Computing Device market when there is a difference of one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) or less in the shipment of shares among two or more vendors. Traditional PCs include Desktops, Notebooks, and Workstations, and do not include Tablets or x86 Servers.

Shipments include shipments to distribution channels or end users. OEM sales are counted under the company/brand under which they are sold.

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