The PC industry is entering a 'tough period', as IDC warns that the upcoming quarters could be very difficult for both vendors and customers, due to the current market conditions.
PC Shipments Did See a Modest Growth In Q1, Driven By Buyer Interest to Get Protection From the Upcoming Price Hikes
The consumer market has been difficult to navigate for the past few months, as shortages of key components like CPUs, GPUs, memory, and SSDs have prompted retailers to hike prices, giving the impression that the shortages have been factored in. However, OEMs have now held off on price hikes to a much greater extent, limiting them to a few high-end SKUs and raising prices to get more RAM/SSD onboard. But in terms of base pricing/MSRP or products, the hikes have been sustained; according to IDC, this could change in the coming weeks.
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 market researcher says the PC industry saw slight growth in shipments in Q1 of 2026, up 2.5% YoY, and attributes this growth to 'customer FOMO' driven by rising prices and the Windows 10 upgrade cycle already in place. However, moving forward, the wider market shifts, including geopolitical tensions, supply-demand constraints, and waning consumer interest in PC purchases, will be a real test for PC vendors, which is why other market reports have suggested we will see a decline in PC shipments. And amid all this, it is the end buyer who will feel the most pressure.
IDC's PC shipment tracker shows that, on a QoQ scope, ASUS posted the highest growth, up 17.7%, while HP and other vendors saw noticeable declines in shipments. The research doesn't specify a reason for this trend, but ASUS's growth likely stems from its newest Panther Lake laptops, given its diverse lineup. It would be interesting to see how these figures change in the upcoming quarters, as we know the supply chain is preparing for a rough time ahead.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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