Concerns over impending cost escalations from AI-fueled demand for memory and storage have prompted many to purchase new computers ahead of time. Counterpoint Research's analysis indicates that worldwide PC shipments rose by approximately 3.2 percent compared to the previous year in the first quarter of 2026, fueled by anticipatory purchases in advance of memory-related retail price rises and Microsoft's discontinuation of Windows 10 support the prior year.
The quarter saw 63.3 million units sold globally, according to Counterpoint, with sales notably strong among five leading premium PC manufacturers: Lenovo, ASUS, Apple, HP, and Dell. Lenovo holds the largest share of the PC market at 26 percent, and shipments expanded for nearly all these firms except HP, which experienced a 5 percent year-over-year decrease. Apple's PC volumes increased by 11 percent, attributed to enhancements via the M5 chips in its MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, along with the launch of the budget-friendly $600 MacBook Neo. Analysts at Counterpoint believe these improvements may boost sales even more in the upcoming quarter.
Despite the upbeat sales figures, the broader PC sector faces ongoing challenges. Counterpoint Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang notes that the rapid growth in AI infrastructure spending is elevating component expenses overall, which could affect prices for CPUs and other essential parts in PCs. He adds that the continued rise in costs and subsequent retail price adjustments are projected to substantially hinder the PC market's expansion throughout 2026.
This prevailing view that tougher times lie ahead aligns with alerts from fellow experts regarding RAM and storage shortages. In December 2025, IDC forecasted a potential 8.9 percent decline in PC shipments for 2026 due to escalating RAM costs, later updating that estimate to 11.6 percent in March. Although buyers may not yet be hit hardest by these elevations, frequent announcements of price adjustments continue, such as Meta's recent increase for its Quest headsets, signaling that impacts are imminent.