PC Shipments Rise 3.2% in Q1 2026

PC Sales Increase in Q1 2026

Global PC shipments grew around 3.2 percent year-over-year in Q1 2026, driven by pre-emptive buying before memory-led price increases hit the retail level. This growth was prompted by fear of price hikes due to AI-driven demand for memory and storage.

Driving Factors

Microsoft’s actions and the specter of price hikes contributed to the increase in PC sales. The current demand for memory and storage, driven by AI, is the root cause of the expected price hikes.

Market Impact

The PC market saw increased sales as consumers rushed to buy before prices rose. The demand for PCs was driven by the need to avoid higher prices later, with Microsoft’s role in prompting purchases contributing to the growth.

Updates

• 2026-04-23 — John Ternus explains what he thinks of Apple Vision Pro (source)