2026 PC units down 11.3%, tablet units down 7.9%, but revenues up

PC units will fall 11.3% this year and tablet units will fall 7.6%, says the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker.

These reductions are driven by memory shortages, rising component prices, and broader supply constraints, all of which are expected to limit production well into 2027.

However higher ASPs are expected to lift total market value, with PCs growing 1.6% to $274 billion and tablets expanding 3.9% to $66.8 billion in 2026.

IDC anticipates vendors prioritizing supply chain resilience, more flexible component sourcing strategies, and explore down-spec’ing options to control costs while offering more affordable devices.

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David Manners

David Manners has more than forty-years experience writing about the electronics industry, its major trends and leading players. As well as writing business, components and research news, he is the author of the site's most popular blog, Mannerisms. This features series of posts such as Fables, Markets, Shenanigans, and Memory Lanes, across a wide range of topics.