- Global PC shipments grew 3.2% YoY in Q1 2026 to reach 63.3 million units, driven by pre-emptive buying before memory-led price increases hit the retail level, and the necessary hardware refreshes caused by the termination of Windows 10 support.
- Lenovo, Dell, Apple and Asus saw YoY growth in shipments, and an increase in market share.
- 2026 will serve as a critical test of market resilience, where survival depends on an OEM’s ability to secure a reliable supply chain while successfully pivoting from low-margin models to more sustainable mid-to-high-end portfolios.
Seoul, Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo
Global PC Shipments by OEM, Q1 2026 (In Million Units)
Source: Counterpoint Research Preliminary PC Shipment Data
Global PC shipments grew 3.2% YoY in Q1 2026 to reach 63.3 million units, according to Counterpoint Research’s preliminary PC shipment data. The growth was fueled by two key drivers – pre-emptive buying before memory-led price increases hit the retail level, and the necessary hardware refreshes caused by the termination of Windows 10 support.
The competitive landscape saw major players capitalizing on the refresh cycle, with several companies posting double-digit YoY percentage growth:
- Lenovo maintained its market leadership, with shipments rising 9% YoY in Q1 2026 to 16.5 million units, achieving a 26% market share and marking the highest first-quarter performance on record.
- HP saw a 5% YoY decline in shipments, yet it maintained a substantial lead over the third-placed vendor.
- Dell saw a 8% YoY increase driven by replacement demand within the commercial sector.
- Apple’s shipments jumped 11% YoY in Q1 2026, delivering 6.7 million units thanks to the initial shipments of the new MacBooks in March. Looking ahead, the ramp-up in production and delivery of these models is set to drive even more significant growth in the following quarter.
- Asus recorded the most explosive YoY growth, surging by an impressive 20% to reach 4.8 million units, driven by solid consumer notebook demand.
Together, these top five vendors captured nearly 80% of the global PC market, underscoring continued consolidation at the high end. Smaller OEMs, by contrast, saw flat or declining volumes.
QoQ Price Trends for PC Memory, Q2 2025 – Q3 2026
Source: Counterpoint’s Memory Price Tracker and Forecast*
*Prices in this report are based on the contract price
*Prices in this report are based on the contract price
Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang noted, “According to Counterpoint’s Memory Price Tracker and Forecast, PC memory prices surged nearly twofold in Q1 2026 compared to the previous quarter, and this upward trend is expected to persist through Q2 2026 at a moderated pace. The aggressive expansion in AI infrastructure investment is driving up overall component costs, which will likely impact the pricing of CPUs and other key components in PC. Ultimately, the sustained upward pressure on costs and the resulting hike in retail prices are expected to have a significant negative impact on the PC market’s growth in 2026.”
While higher prices may provide some ASP (average selling price) uplift, the projected YoY drop in shipment volumes will result in revenue declines for most of the OEMs. However, around 40% of the current installed base still consists of Windows 10 or older systems, suggesting that a significant portion of devices still require upgrades. Consequently, the PC market’s decline is likely to be less pronounced compared to other consumer electronics segments.
Furthermore, with the launch of Qualcomm’s second-generation chipsets and the steady rollout of AI-capable CPUs from Intel and AMD, the demand for AI PCs is set for sustained growth.
Associate Director David Naranjo said, “PC demand in Q1 2026 benefited from short-term tailwinds, particularly pre-emptive buying ahead of memory-driven price increases and the ongoing Windows 10 refresh cycle. However, these factors are frontloading demand rather than signaling sustained growth. As we move through 2026, supply-side pressures from DRAM and NAND pricing will continue to weigh on volumes, and the refresh cycle alone will not be enough to offset the expected decline. Looking ahead to 2027, easing memory constraints combined with the continued ramp of AI PCs should help stabilize the market and support a return to modest growth.”
This year will be a critical period for testing how PC OEMs respond to market volatility. Only those who can ensure a reliable supply chain for essential components and successfully transition their business focus from low-margin models to more sustainable mid-tier and premium segments are expected to endure.
About Counterpoint Research
Counterpoint Research is a global market research firm specializing in products across the technology ecosystem. We advise a diverse range of clients – from smartphone OEMs to chipmakers and channel players to Big Tech – through our offices located in the world’s major innovation hubs, manufacturing clusters and commercial centers. Our analyst team, led by seasoned experts, engages with stakeholders across the enterprise – from the C-suite to professionals in strategy, analyst relations (AR), market intelligence (MI), business intelligence (BI), product and marketing – to deliver services spanning market data, industry thought leadership and consulting. Our core areas of coverage include AI, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Displays, eSIM, IoT, Location Platforms, Macroeconomics, Manufacturing, Networks and Infrastructure, Semiconductors, Smartphones and Wearables. Visit our Insights page to explore our publicly available market data, insights and thought leadership, and to understand our focus, meet our analysts and start a conversation.
