The PC sales worldwideboth desktop and laptop computers and workstations, It will decrease by 12% in 2026 until it remains at 245 million unitsaccording to the forecasts of the consulting firm Omdia. This forecast is based on the strong increase in memory and storage prices, which is expected to continue throughout this year, although the increases subsequent to those recorded in the first quarter of the year are expected to be smaller.
In the case of desktop PC sales, they are expected to decrease by 10% to 53.2 million units, while laptop PC sales will decrease by 12%, to 192.2 million units. Furthermore, based on a multi-scenario analysis of the evolution of the situation, and based on the most recent information available and market signals, the forecasts carry a greater downside risk. Specifically, an increase in memory and storage shortages, with increasingly steep Price increases.
This could further dampen consumer demand, and restrict suppliers’ supplies of computers, leading to a drop in sales of 15% or even more. In addition, the recent outbreak of another war in the Middle East has introduced notable uncertainty in international transport and regional market growth, although it remains to be seen whether the situation will persist.
By price range, the detailed analysis shows that shortages and price increases have affected products at different price levels to a greater or lesser extent. In the case of lower-priced products, there is less room to absorb the increase in costs, and consumers in this segment also tend to be more sensitive to price changes. Additionally, lower-end products often rely on lower-capacity, older-generation components, and companies give them less priority. So much so that some suppliers may interrupt their production in this situation.
According to Ben Yeh, Principal Analyst at Omdia«Within the limited supply of bits that PC vendors can obtain, prioritizing high-end products will be the preferred strategy to mitigate the impact on business results«.
Therefore, PCs priced under $500 are expected to be the most affected, with a decrease of hundreds of 28% to 62.1 million units sold. As for sales of high-end PCs, with a price equal to or greater than $900, they have more support, and could even grow in sales moderately.
Yeh further emphasizes that apart from the ability of higher price ranges to absorb price increases, it must be taken into account that some consumers and enterprise IT decision makers will accept higher prices to meet their essential needs. But he has also pointed out that «movement towards higher price ranges does not necessarily represent an improvement in product configurations«.
The supply-driven recession in 2026, according to Omdia, will not affect all PC platforms equally. Thus, the consulting firm anticipates that los PCs con Windowswhich account for 83% of sales, sales will decrease by 12% in 2026since it is the platform most affected by memory and storage limitations.
Los devices with Chrome, however, will be the ones that will register the steepest drop in sales: 28%. This is because this platform is exposed to more restrictive component allocation, lower margins, and the elimination of certain memory and storage products. Computers with Mac OS, for their part, will have a smaller drop of 5%thanks to Apple’s vertically integrated supply chain as well as its premium positioning.
