IDC: Global PC shipments in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 2.5% year-on-year, maintaining growth amidst turbulence.

Preliminary data from IDC shows that in the first quarter of 2026, global PC shipments increased by 2.5% year-on-year, reaching 65.6 million units. Despite the ongoing deterioration of the macroeconomic environment and the tight supply of memory chips, the PC market still delivered another quarter of steady growth. This wave of growth is mainly driven by three factors: market expectations of component price increases, the demand for Windows 10 system migration, and the intensive release of new products by major manufacturers. Jean Philippe Bouchard, Vice President of Global Mobile Device Tracking Research at IDC, pointed out that as expected, 2026 will be a year of market share reshuffling. The supply chain resilience of each PC manufacturer, as well as their ability to acquire core components such as memory, will face severe tests. Ultimately, those who can meet market demand are the manufacturers who have both secured memory supply and have a product portfolio covering all price segments. Despite the positive data for the first quarter of 2026, the impact of component shortages and economic downturn has begun to show - the growth momentum in regional markets around the world has significantly slowed down. IDC predicts that as machine prices continue to rise, PC shipments will further decline in the coming quarters. Isaac Ngatia, Senior Analyst of Device Research at IDC, stated that the Middle East conflict has added another layer of uncertainty to the already fragile computing device market. Rising energy costs and soaring freight rates are like a double-edged sword, making global logistics even more challenging. On one hand, sea routes - especially those connecting Asia to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa - continue to be disrupted; on the other hand, the shift to air transport is costly. Ultimately, these additional costs are passed down to the end of the value chain, further increasing the pressure on PC prices for end users.