Despite what I can describe as one of the biggest dilemmas the computer industry has ever faced, the global supply of laptops and desktops has increased in 2026.
As hardware costs continue to rise, forcing all brands to reassess prices, a A new report from Counterpoint Research Reveals global PC shipments It increased by 3.2% year after year First quarter of 2026.
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ASUS, which I consider to be one of the most advanced brands in recent times when it comes to hardware quality, is the biggest growth 20%. Sent 4.8 million personal computers In the first quarter of 2026, although it remains in fifth place overall.
For years, Lenovo, the world’s largest manufacturer of personal computers, remains in first place with this indicator 9% increasecomes out for 16.5 million units Shipped in Q1 2026. In general, he is a 26% global market share.
Despite this, HP remains in second place A 5% decrease year-on-yearand Dell also takes a modest third place 8% increase. Apple’s global shipments also increased 11%it certainly helped affordable MacBook Neo.
Shouldn’t PC Sales Be Declining in 2026?
I’ve been keeping tabs on computer supplies and hardware prices ever since AI-Managed RAMpocalypse really started in 2025 and happened many warnings from analysts rising spending will boost PC sales in 2026.
Unfortunately, the growth seen in Q1 2026 isn’t really a sign that PC sales are leveling off. As I mentioned above, this is more about panic buying and the lingering effects of Windows 10 users upgrading to Windows 11 PCs.
These factors are more of a front-loading of demand than a signal of sustained growth. Moving forward to 2026, supply-side pressures from DRAM and NAND prices will continue to weigh on volumes, and a single refresh cycle will not be enough to offset the expected decline.
David Naranjo, Associate Director of Counterpoint Research
It’s not all bad news, at least for the big PC brands. Counterpoint shows interest in combining Windows 10 updates Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 chipsand demand AI computers Using Intel and AMD hardware will help balance growth as we head into 2027.
As senior analyst Minsoo Kang noted, “The decline in the PC market will be less pronounced than in other consumer electronics segments.“
It doesn’t look good for small computer brands
The five companies at the top of Counterpoint’s charts are almost shipped 80% of the world’s computers. Counterpoint lumps other, smaller brands into the same category. Overall, this unit fell behind 7% year after year.
This coincides with the data IDC research I covered in January 2026warned that “smaller brands may not survive and consumers, especially DIY enthusiasts, may delay purchases or shift their spending to other devices or experiences.“
Market growth will ultimately depend on supply chains, as well as the ability to move away from supply chains.low-margin models to more sustainable mid-range and premium segments.“
Adoption of Windows Central
As someone deeply involved in the PC world, I hate to see all the negative market predictions. The worst is such an assumption entry-level computers will disappear within the next year or two.
While I love testing the most premium hardware, the reality is that most Windows users buy in the sub-$1,000 price range.
If this market goes away completely, we’ll have a whole new conversation about how to use your computer, even if it’s long past its use-by date.
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