Hunting for a new PC? You might need to be quick global shipments set to plummet in 2026 as memory and storage shortages bite

Date:
Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:40:00 +0000

Description:
Global PC shipments may decline in 2026 as memory and storage shortages drive costs higher and force vendors to adjust pricing.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get the TechRadar Newsletter Sign up for
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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Global PC shipments set for sharp decline as component shortages intensify Memory and storage prices surge, forcing vendors to rethink PC strategies Budget computers face the steepest shipment losses amid tightening component supply Anyone planning to purchase a new work PC in the coming months may encounter shrinking availability as supply pressures deepen across the industry, experts have warned.

Research from Omdia indicates global shipments of desktops, notebooks, workstations , and even some mini PC designs could drop sharply in 2026. The projected drop is due to shortages in memory and storage, which are major parts of these devices. Article continues below You may like PC sales set for a 2026 downturn as memory demand hits other devices Experts warn PC prices could rise even more in 2026 as RAM costs set to soar higher Looking for a
new PC? With RAM prices and shortages showing no sign of disappearing, is might be time to buy a secondhand laptop Rising component costs threaten global PC supply The Omdia report estimates that worldwide PC shipments will fall by 12% to roughly 245 million units, as increases in component prices, especially memory and storage, are expected to surge by at least 60% during the first quarter of 2026.

Since early 2025, the cost of mainstream memory and storage configurations
has already increased by between $90 and $165, which has placed pressure on manufacturers to raise prices or adjust configurations.

Desktops are expected to decline by roughly 10% to 53.2 million units
shipped, while laptops could drop by 12% to around 192.2 million units.

Vendors now face difficult trade-offs as supply tightens and manufacturing costs continue rising. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
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Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Omdia claims this affects low-priced computers more, and systems priced below $500 could see shipments decline by 28% to about 62.1 million units in 2026.

Analysts say this segment has less flexibility to absorb price increases without affecting demand.

For lower-priced products, there is less margin room to absorb rising costs, and consumers in this segment are typically more sensitive to price fluctuations, said Omdia Principal Analyst Ben Yeh. What to read next Even Lenovo is getting concerned about global chip shortages - CEO says world's largest manufacturer will 'expect PC unit sales to face pressure' RAM crisis could mean the sub-$500 PC market will 'disappear by 2028' HP says the memory chip crunch isn't going anywhere soon - and also warns of PC sales slump

In addition, lower-price-band products often rely on lower-capacity, previous-generation components and receive lower allocation priority while facing the hurdle of some suppliers discontinuing production.

By contrast, higher-priced systems above $900 appear more resilient, and some consumers and IT decision makers will accept higher price points to meet essential needs.

However, Yeh cautioned that the movement toward higher price bands does not necessarily represent improved product configurations.

The outlook for 2026 points to a difficult year for the global PC market as component shortages and rising costs continue to influence production and pricing decisions.

Market performance will depend largely on how vendors manage production, pricing, and component allocation, with the future market trend remaining uncertain. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source
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