US PC shipments drop 7% in Q1 2026, biggest decline since 2023

Market research firm Omdia reports that US PC shipments (excluding tablets) fell 7 % year‑on‑year in the first quarter of 2026, to 15.8 million units, marking the steepest annual decline since the third quarter of 2023. The slowdown is attributed to component supply constraints – with DRAM and NAND being redirected to AI server applications – higher memory and storage costs, a demand hangover after the Windows 11 refresh cycle, and earlier tariff‑related inventory pull‑forward.

Low‑priced PCs (under $500) saw an 18.7 % drop, while the average selling price rose 4 % in the quarter. Omdia forecasts a 14.4 % full‑year shipment decline versus 2025 and expects further price pressure. Market share shifted as Dell overtook HP to lead the US market with roughly 25 % share; HP fell 21.6 % in shipments and sits at about 20.5 % alongside Lenovo, while Apple holds around 16.9 %.

"With DRAM and NAND supply increasingly diverted to AI server applications, rising component costs are eroding vendor margins on entry‑level devices," Omdia said.