Omdia: Global PC Shipments to Decline 12% in 2026 Amid Severe Memory and Storage Supply Challenges

Core Insights - Global PC shipments are projected to decline by 12% in 2026, reaching 245 million units, primarily due to significant increases in memory and storage prices, with a minimum expected rise of 60% in Q1 2026 [1][1][1] Summary by Category Shipment Forecasts - Desktops are expected to decline by 10% to 53.2 million units, while laptops will see a 12% decline to 192.2 million units [1][1][1] Price Impact - Since Q1 2025, mainstream memory and storage costs have increased by US$90 to US$165, leading PC vendors to reduce promotions, raise prices, and adjust configurations [1][1][1] - PCs priced below US$500 are anticipated to be the hardest hit, declining by 28% to approximately 62.1 million units shipped, while high-end PCs priced at US$900 and above may maintain modest growth [1][1][1] Platform Analysis - Windows PCs, which represent 83% of shipments, are forecasted to decline by 12% in 2026 due to memory and storage constraints [1][1][1] - Chrome devices are expected to face the steepest decline at 28%, while Macs are projected to have a modest 5% decline, supported by Apple's supply chain [1][1][1] - HarmonyOS-based PCs are emerging as a growth segment, expected to expand tenfold year on year from a small base as Huawei develops its PC ecosystem in China [1][1][1]