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Global PC Shipments Rise 4% in Q1 2026, Driven by Vendor Stockpiling

Worldwide PC shipments grew 4% year-on-year to 62.8 million units in the first quarter of 2026, according to a Gartner report. The research firm notes this growth is "artificially inflated" as vendors increased inventory ahead of anticipated component price rises. Apple emerged as the fastest-growing major vendor with a 12.7% shipment increase, driven by strong demand for its MacBook Neo lineup. Lenovo maintained the top position in global shipments, while ASUS moved ahead of Acer to secure fifth place.

Key Points: Q1 2026 PC Shipments Grow 4%, Apple Leads Growth

  • 4% yearly growth to 62.8M units
  • Growth inflated by vendor stockpiling
  • Apple fastest-growing at 12.7%
  • Lenovo leads, HP second, Dell gains share
  • ASUS overtakes Acer for fifth place
2 min read

Worldwide PC shipments rise 4 pc in Q1: Report

Global PC shipments hit 62.8M units in Q1 2026, a 4% rise fueled by vendor inventory builds. Apple sees fastest growth at 12.7%.

"This performance was primarily driven by robust demand for the MacBook Neo - Rishi Padhi, Gartner"

New Delhi, April 15

Worldwide PC shipments grew 4 per cent year-on-year to 62.8 million units in the first quarter of 2026, a report said on Wednesday.

The data compiled by Gartner noted that the growth in PC shipments during the January-March quarter was not entirely reflective of real consumer demand.

Instead, vendors and channel partners increased inventory levels in anticipation of rising component costs in the second quarter of 2026.

Rishi Padhi, Research Principal at Gartner, said the year-on-year growth was 'artificially inflated,' primarily due to stockpiling ahead of price increases driven by rising memory prices, commonly referred to as memflation, along with higher costs of DRAM and NAND flash components.

He added that this trend was particularly visible in lower-margin PC segments.

The comparison base also influenced the growth figures, as the first quarter of 2025 had seen elevated shipments due to front-loading ahead of US tariffs, further distorting the year-on-year trend.

In terms of vendor performance, there were no significant changes among the top four global PC makers.

Lenovo maintained its leadership position in worldwide shipments, while HP Inc. retained the second spot despite losing some market share.

Dell Technologies also recorded gains in market share during the quarter.

Among the major vendors, Apple emerged as the fastest-growing player, posting a 12.7 per cent year-on-year increase in shipments.

The growth was largely driven by strong demand for its MacBook Neo lineup, particularly among new users and the education segment.

"This performance was primarily driven by robust demand for the MacBook Neo, particularly among new Mac users and buyers in the education sector," Padhi stated.

"This strategic positioning enabled Apple to attract cost-conscious consumers seeking high-performance devices, further solidifying its competitive advantage in the segment," he added.

The report highlighted that this strategic positioning helped Apple attract cost-conscious buyers looking for high-performance devices, strengthening its competitive position in the global PC market.

Meanwhile, ASUS moved ahead of Acer to secure the fifth position in global vendor rankings during the quarter.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
Apple's growth is impressive! The MacBook Neo seems to be a hit. In India, I see more students opting for Apple in colleges now, especially for design and coding courses. The ecosystem is a big pull.
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Aman W
Respectfully, I think the article could have focused more on what this means for the average Indian buyer. We need affordable options. Lenovo and HP are leaders, but their budget series in India often have compromises.
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Sarah B
Working in IT procurement, this "artificially inflated" growth makes perfect sense. We've been advising clients to lock in quotes for bulk orders before Q2. The component cost forecast is worrying for project budgets.
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Vikram M
Good to see ASUS moving up! Their Vivobook and TUF series offer great value for money in the Indian market. Hope this pushes other brands to offer better specs at competitive prices. 🇮🇳
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Karthik V
The real story is hidden. If growth is from inventory and not real demand, what happens when this stock hits the market? Could lead to discounts later in the year. Might be a good time to wait for the Great Indian Festival Sale on Amazon/Flipkart! 😄

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