PC Shipments Surged in Q4. Why That’s Bad News for Laptop Shoppers

With the ongoing memory shortage threatening to raise prices even more in 2026, the PC market saw a surprising surge in shipments in Q4, but it’s not expected to last.

Shipments were up 9.6% year over year, exceeding expectations. It looks like the memory shortage fears played a major role in the shipment spike amid eye-popping price hikes for DDR5 RAM, and to a lesser degree, SSDs, according to research firm IDC.

“While the holiday season typically drives stronger demand, the surge in late 2025 was further amplified by emerging memory shortages that led buyers and brands to secure inventory ahead of anticipated price increases in 2026,” IDC says. 

The PC shipments could head off potential price increases by creating a stockpile at retailers. On social media, many PC builders have also talked about buying components now, including graphics cards, rather than waiting, fearing they’ll be ensnared in future price hikes.

But looking out further, IDC expects some rocky times for the industry. Although some vendors have enough memory supplies to last for another year, PC manufacturers, including HP, have also warned about price increases and lowering memory specifications for laptops. 

“The severity of the shortage raises the risk that smaller brands may not survive, and consumers, particularly DIY [do-it-yourself] enthusiasts, may delay purchases or shift their spending to other devices or experiences,” adds IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani.  

Rival research firm Omdia reports similar trends; it estimates the PC market saw a 10% year-over-year shipment increase in Q4, but warns about pain ahead. The memory crunch is expected to cause PC vendors to also focus on higher-end, pricier products to maintain their profit margins, Omdia predicts, meaning fewer budget options. Others expect the memory shortage to hit consumer smartphones as well, resulting in price increases.

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Michael Kan

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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

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