Omdia Forecasts 2026 PC Market Decline

Omdia has released a forecast predicting a significant 12% decline in global shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations in 2026, totaling around 245 million units. This downturn is primarily attributed to sharply rising prices for memory and storage components, with a projected minimum 60% increase in Q1 2026. Since Q1 2025, component costs have already risen by US$90 to US$165, forcing PC manufacturers to reduce promotions, raise product prices, and adjust configurations. The impact is expected to be broad, with desktop shipments falling 10% and laptop shipments 12%. Lower-priced PCs (below US$500) are most vulnerable, forecast to decline 28%, while high-end PCs (US$900 and above) may see modest growth. Different operating systems will also be affected unevenly: Windows PCs are expected to decline 12%, Chrome devices 28%, and Macs 5%. Huawei===HarmonyOS-based PCs are a notable growth segment, projected to expand tenfold as Huawei ramps up its ecosystem in China. Geopolitical uncertainty, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, adds further downside risk to the market outlook.