Omdia Research: Global PC Market Grows Amid Memory Crisis

There is still positive news from the global personal computer (PC) market amid threats from the global memory crisis. Market research firm Omdia states that the global PC market grew in the first quarter of 2026, despite being overshadowed by component cost pressures. In Omdia’s latest report for the January-March 2026 period, the global PC market recorded a 3.2% year-on-year increase, with total shipments reaching 64.8 million units. In detail, the laptop segment (including mobile workstations) grew 2.6% to 50.8 million units. Meanwhile, desktops (including workstations) recorded higher growth of 5.4% to 14 million units. Factors include strategies to accelerate shipments before component prices rise, the Windows 10 device replacement cycle, and numerous new product launches at the start of the year. Omdia Principal Analyst Ben Yeh said this growth is likely to be the peak for the global PC market throughout 2026. This is because supply chain pressures are predicted to intensify from Q2 2026, accompanied by rising memory and storage prices. “This situation is triggered by the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres that absorb component supplies, thus pressuring availability for the consumer market,” Ben explained, quoted from Omdia’s official website. “Additionally, Intel and AMD processor prices are projected to rise 10-25% ahead of Q2 2026, and this is estimated to add further pressure on PC vendors,” Ben added. In Omdia’s research, Lenovo recorded shipments of 16.5 million units with a 25.5% market share, growing 8.7% year-on-year. Second place went to HP with 12.1 million units and an 18.7% share, though it experienced a 4.9% decline due to weak markets in Europe and the United States. Meanwhile, Dell ranked third with 10.3 million units and a 15.9% share, growing 7.8% annually. Apple occupied fourth place with 7.1 million units and an 11% share. Apple’s growth reached 5.4%, driven by sales of the MacBook Air line and new models. Asus completed the top five with 4.6 million units and a 7.1% market share, maintaining double-digit growth.