Institution: Global PC Shipments Grew 3.2% YoY in 2026Q1, Expect Continued Memory Price Hikes in Q2 to Squeeze Vendor Gross Margins

According to the latest research from Omdia, global shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations reached 64.8 million units in 2026Q1, representing a 3.2% year-over-year increase. Among these, notebook shipments totaled 50.8 million units, up 2.6% year-over-year, while desktop shipments reached 14 million units, a 5.4% increase. The growth was primarily driven by three factors: pre-orders by vendors and channel partners, the Windows 10 replacement cycle, and a heavier than usual slate of spring product launches. By vendor, Lenovo secured the top spot with 16.5 million units shipped, HP saw a decline in shipments, while Dell, Apple, and ASUS all posted growth. According to Omdia's analysis, supply chain pressures continue to intensify, and the moderate growth seen in Q1 may mark the high point for the full year. It is expected that memory and storage costs will continue to rise significantly in Q2, along with CPU price increases, squeezing PC vendor gross margins and forcing them to pass cost through to channel partners and end-customers.