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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes, PC shipments grew at the start of 2026—but the increase may be temporary. Omdia recorded 64.8 million global shipments in the first quarter, up 3.2% from a year earlier. Orders were pulled forward before expected memory and storage-price increases, so Omdia expects the market to weaken later in the year. For household budgets, that means entry-level laptops and desktops face the greatest price pressure, while delaying an essential purchase could cost more if component inflation reaches retail prices.
What happened to PC shipments in early 2026?
Omdia’s April 2026 release counted 64.8 million global shipments of desktops, notebooks and workstations in 1Q26, a 3.2% year-over-year increase. Notebooks accounted for 50.8 million units and desktops 14.0 million.
Omdia attributes the growth to three temporary or scheduled factors:
- Channel partners brought orders forward ahead of expected component-cost increases.
- Organizations continued budgeting for Windows 10 replacement PCs.
- An unusually heavy spring product-launch schedule supported shipments.
Ben Yeh, Omdia principal analyst, said that “Q1’s modest growth is likely to mark the high point for the year” while supply-chain pressure builds.
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Why Omdia expects the market to contract
Omdia’s March 2026 outlook projected 245 million global PC shipments for the full year, down 12%. The forecast assumes memory and storage prices rise by at least 60% in 1Q26, with additional increases later. Mainstream memory and storage configurations had already become US$90–US$165 more expensive than in 1Q25.
Those costs affect the bill of materials before a laptop or desktop reaches a retailer. Vendors can absorb part of the increase by accepting lower margins, redesigning configurations or prioritizing more profitable products, but some of the cost generally reaches distributors and buyers. Yeh warned that further increases from Q2 could squeeze vendor margins and force higher prices for channel partners and end customers.
Which PCs are most exposed to higher prices?
Omdia’s forecast shows a sharp difference by price tier. Lower-priced systems have less margin and usually use smaller memory and storage configurations, so a fixed component increase represents a larger share of the selling price.
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| PC segment | Omdia 2026 expectation | What it means for buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Below US$500 | Shipments forecast down 28%, to about 62.1 million units | Greatest risk of price increases, reduced specifications or fewer models |
| US$900 and above | Modest growth could be maintained | Higher margins and essential business demand provide more room to absorb costs |
| US$1,500 and above in the US, 2Q26 | Shipments increased 36.8% | Premium buyers continued purchasing despite higher prices |
| Below US$699 in the US, 2Q26 | Shipments fell 6.5% | Price-sensitive demand weakened |
Omdia also said entry-level prices could remain elevated through 2027 as DRAM and NAND capacity is increasingly directed to AI-server applications. That is a forecast, not a guarantee that every retailer will raise prices by the same amount.
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What the US numbers show
The US data illustrates the difference between a short-term shipment bump and a durable recovery. Omdia’s 1Q26 US release reported 15.8 million units, down 7.0% year over year, and forecast a 14.4% full-year decline.
In its later 2Q26 release, Omdia reported 18.8 million US shipments, up 1.0% year over year. It nevertheless forecast a 10.7% decline for the full year and an 18.4% decline in the second half. Revenue rose 13.1% as manufacturers concentrated production on higher-margin, higher-cost PCs. Average US sell-in price exceeded US$1,000 for the first time, up 12.0%; business average selling prices rose 19.0% and consumer prices 9.7%.
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How buyers should interpret the outlook
If you need a computer for work, school or accessibility
Buy when the computer is necessary rather than assuming a later discount will offset component inflation. Compare the complete configuration—memory, SSD capacity, processor generation, display and warranty—not just the advertised starting price. A slightly higher-priced system with adequate memory and storage may have a lower total cost than replacing an under-specced machine soon.
If your current PC still works
Waiting can be reasonable, particularly for a nonessential upgrade. Before replacing it, check whether a compatible RAM or NVMe SSD upgrade solves the actual bottleneck. Compatibility, available slots, maximum capacity and the operating system should be verified for the specific machine; an incompatible upgrade can add cost without improving performance.
If your budget is below US$500
Expect the narrowest selection and the greatest sensitivity to memory and storage costs. Set a minimum specification for your tasks, watch the final price rather than a temporary list price, and avoid sacrificing required capacity merely to stay below a headline threshold.
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If you are considering a premium PC
Omdia’s figures suggest premium supply and demand are more resilient, but a higher price is not automatically better value. Pay for capabilities you will use—such as sustained business workloads, a brighter display or longer support—and compare warranty and upgradeability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why commercial demand is holding up better than consumer demand
Commercial, government and education purchases often follow planned refresh cycles, so organizations may continue buying even as prices rise. Consumers are more likely to defer a discretionary replacement when monthly budgets are tight. This difference helps explain why premium and business average prices rose while lower-priced consumer shipments declined.
How to make a purchase decision under uncertainty
- Classify the need: determine whether the PC is essential now, needed within a fixed deadline or merely an upgrade.
- Set a task-based specification: choose the memory, storage, processor and display needed for your software, rather than selecting by brand or price alone.
- Calculate total ownership cost: include accessories, software, warranty coverage and any required upgrade.
- Compare current offers: treat Omdia’s market forecast as a direction of risk, not a prediction of a specific store’s price.
- Protect cash flow: avoid financing a discretionary purchase at an interest rate that outweighs any possible benefit from buying earlier.
What Omdia’s forecast does—and does not—tell you
The figures describe shipments into channels and manufacturers’ average selling prices, not the exact price every consumer will pay. They also do not identify a best laptop or desktop model, measure individual retailer inventory, or guarantee that a particular configuration will become more expensive. Local promotions, exchange rates, taxes and retailer stock can outweigh the global trend for a specific purchase.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
