Robust Growth In Global PC Shipments
Global shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations increased by 3.2% year-on-year in Q1 2026, reaching 64.8 million units. Notebooks, including mobile workstations, rose by 2.6% to 50.8 million units. Desktop shipments increased by 5.4% to 14.0 million units.
Accelerated Orders Amid Supply Chain Concerns
Omdia attributes shipment growth to vendors and channel partners accelerating orders ahead of expected component cost increases. Ongoing Windows 10 replacement cycles and new product launches from Windows manufacturers and Apple supported shipment volumes. Early ordering reflects efforts to manage costs and secure supply.
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Rising Component Costs And Margin Pressures
Ben Yeh, Principal Analyst at Omdia, said that rising memory and storage costs are expected to increase further starting in Q2. Higher component prices are likely to pressure margins and lead to price adjustments across the supply chain. Demand linked to AI data center expansion has affected component availability. CPU prices are projected to increase by 10% to 25% by Q2, adding to cost pressures.
Firm Regional And Vendor Dynamics
Vendors are accelerating shipments to secure revenue and margins before further cost increases. Channel partners in North America have increased inventory levels. Japan shows signs of slowing demand following high shipment volumes in previous periods and rising costs in the education sector. Reduced policy-driven demand after 2025 may contribute to lower shipments in 2026.
Vendor Performance: Leaders And Challengers
Lenovo reported 16.5 million units shipped, up 8.7% year-on-year, with over 25% market share. HP shipped 12.1 million units, down 4.9%, reflecting weaker demand in Europe and the United States. Dell shipments increased by 7.8% to 10.3 million units. Apple held an 11% market share, supported by MacBook Air sales and new product launches. Asus shipped 4.6 million units, reaching a 7.1% market share.
