Global personal computer shipments rose 9.6% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 76.4 million units, according to preliminary data from analyst firm IDC.
The stronger-than-expected finish capped a volatile year for the PC market, shaped by the end of support for Windows 10, which triggered a broad upgrade cycle, and by early concerns over tariffs that pushed vendors to accelerate inventory purchases.
While the holiday quarter typically delivers a seasonal lift, IDC said demand late in 2025 was further amplified by emerging memory shortages, prompting manufacturers and buyers to secure components ahead of expected price increases in 2026.
IDC warned that tightening memory supply could materially alter the market over the next year.
“Beyond the obvious pressure on system prices, we might also see PC memory specifications be lowered on average to preserve inventory,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Tracker, adding that conditions point to heightened volatility in 2026.
The supply squeeze is expected to reshape competitive dynamics.
“Large consumer electronics brands are better positioned to leverage scale and memory allocations to capture share from smaller and regional vendors,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.
He cautioned that prolonged shortages could threaten smaller brands, while some consumers — particularly DIY builders — may delay purchases or divert spending to other devices or experiences.
Looking ahead, IDC expects average selling prices to rise in 2026 as vendors prioritize midrange and premium systems to offset higher component costs, especially memory.
Unit volumes may ease as prices climb, but overall market value is projected to increase as suppliers, manufacturers, and channel partners adjust pricing in response to another supply-constrained environment.
