Amid memory shortages, rising costs, and the West Asia conflict, PC shipments worldwide might fall by 11.3% in 2026, with tablets down 7.6%, reshaping device affordability.
Global shipments of personal computers (PCs) are forecast to fall 11.3% in 2026, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), marking a downgrade from its earlier projection of a 2.4% decline.
Besides, tablet shipments are also expected to contract by 7.6% this year. PC revenues are projected to grow 1.6% to $274 billion in 2026, while tablet revenues are forecast to expand 3.9% to $66.8 billion.
The downward revisions are attributed to persistent memory shortages, rising component costs and wider supply chain disruptions, which are expected to continue well into 2027.
The escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which intensified after the forecast was issued, has added further uncertainty for the technology and hardware industries.
Ryan Reith, group vice president for Devices and Consumer at IDC, said the industry faces “uncontrollable headwinds” that are compounding disruption across sectors.
He noted that the growing list of geopolitical and supply challenges has created “complete uncertainty around when these pressures will subside.”
Despite falling shipment volumes, the overall market value is expected to rise due to higher average selling prices. Research manager Jitesh Ubrani said the era of low-cost devices has ended for now, with structurally higher prices likely to persist until at least 2028.
The vendors are expected to respond by prioritising supply chain resilience, diversifying component sourcing and exploring cost-control measures such as down-spec’ing devices. These strategies will shape adoption trends in the coming years, as affordability remains a key factor for consumers and enterprises.
