NEW DELHI
The global personal computer market grew by 4 percent in the first quarter of 2026, with shipments reaching nearly 63 million units.
While the numbers look positive, experts warn that this growth doesn’t necessarily mean more people are buying computers. Instead, tech companies are reportedly stockpiling inventory to avoid upcoming price hikes for essential parts like memory chips.
This trend, often called “memflation,” is driving up the cost of manufacturing. By filling warehouses now, vendors hope to protect themselves from more expensive components expected later this year. Analysts noted that these figures are “artificially inflated” because companies are buying ahead of time rather than reacting to immediate customer needs. This behavior was most common in the budget-friendly laptop segment, where profit margins are already very thin.
Among the top brands, the rankings remained mostly steady. Lenovo continues to lead the world in total sales, followed by HP and Dell. However, Apple was the standout performer this quarter. The company saw a massive 12.7 percent growth, largely thanks to the popularity of its new MacBook Neo. Students and first-time buyers have flocked to the device, drawn by its mix of high performance and competitive pricing.
Elsewhere in the market, ASUS managed to overtake Acer to become the fifth-largest PC seller globally. While the industry is currently celebrating growth, all eyes are on the next few months. If component prices continue to rise as predicted, both companies and consumers may face a much tougher financial landscape by the summer.