PC Market Experienced Nearly 10% Growth Last Quarter Amidst Urgent Responses to Upcoming Memory Crisis

The global PC market experienced impressive growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, demonstrating a remarkable increase of 9.6%.This surge was primarily motivated by escalating concerns surrounding an impending memory crisis.

The Future of the PC Market: 2025 and Beyond

According to the latest report from IDC, the total PC shipments rose by 9.6% in Q4 2025, culminating in 76.4 million units shipped. The annual growth rate compared to 2024 stands at a commendable 8.1%.While these figures reflect a solid overall performance, it was the final quarter that showcased a remarkable leap, influenced by several key factors.

Firstly, the conclusion of Windows 10 support catalyzed a significant upgrade cycle, prompting various manufacturers to launch their latest devices featuring Windows 11 and advanced AI capabilities. Additionally, many vendors hurried to stock inventories in anticipation of upcoming tariffs that threatened to impact pricing across the sector. Fortunately, no significant tariff increases have been reported recently, alleviating some concerns.

A line chart titled 'PC Market Annual Growth' shows notable growth variances across regions in 2025. — Image Source: IDC

However, the most critical driver of this growth was the proactive inventory gathering by PC vendors in response to anticipated memory shortages. Presently, the DRAM market is facing significant disruptions, primarily due to high demand from AI data centers, which leaves limited resources available for the consumer PC market. This situation extends beyond just DRAM; shortages and potential price spikes for NAND SSDs and other essential components are also on the horizon, expected to persist well into 2026 and possibly as far as 2028.

As a result, PC manufacturers are compelled to bolster their inventories now, hoping to weather the storm ahead. Nevertheless, the ramifications of these shortages are likely to lead to increased prices across the board. The full IDC report outlines these developments further:

Press Release: Global PC shipments rose by 9.6% year-over-year during Q4 2025, reaching a total of 76.4 million units, according to preliminary findings from IDC. Factors driving this robust performance include the conclusion of Windows 10 support, which spurred upgrade excitement, and vendor preemptive measures against tariff-induced pricing anxieties. While seasonal demand typically spikes during the holiday period, the late 2025 surge was enhanced further by impending memory shortages, prompting brands and buyers alike to secure stocks before price increases expected in 2026.

“IDC expects that the PC market will be far different in 12 months, given how quickly the memory situation is evolving, ” stated Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president at IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.“Beyond the evident pricing pressures announced by certain manufacturers, we might also witness a general lowering of PC memory specifications to conserve existing inventory levels. The upcoming year is poised to be exceptionally volatile.”

“Industry-wide memory shortages are set to significantly alter market dynamics over the next two years, ” warned Jitesh Ubrani, research manager at IDC.“Larger consumer electronics brands are in a favorable position to leverage their scale to capture market shares from smaller competitors. However, the severity of this shortage raises concerns that smaller brands may struggle to survive, with consumers—especially DIY enthusiasts—potentially postponing purchases or reallocating funds to alternative devices.”

Additionally, as the memory crisis progresses, average selling prices (ASPs) are anticipated to increase in 2026. Vendors are likely to prioritize midrange and high-end systems to counterbalance rising component costs. While the total number of units sold may decline, the overall market value is expected to rise as suppliers and manufacturers adapt their pricing strategies to optimize revenue during this challenging supply-constrained landscape.

Top 5 Companies, Worldwide Traditional PC Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q4 2025 (Preliminary results, shipments are in millions of units)
Company	4Q25 Shipments	4Q25 Market Share	4Q24 Shipments	4Q24 Market Share	4Q25/4Q24 Growth
1. Lenovo	19.3	25.3%	16.9	24.2%	14.4%
2. HP Inc	15.4	20.1%	13.7	19.7%	12.1%
3. Dell Technologies	11.7	15.3%	9.9	14.2%	18.2%
4. Apple	7.1	9.3%	7.1	10.2%	0.2%
5. ASUS	5.4	7.1%	4.9	7.0%	10.9%
Others	17.4	22.8%	17.2	24.7%	1.5%
Total	76.4	100.0%	69.7	100.0%	9.6%
Source: IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, January 12, 2026

Top 5 Companies, Worldwide Traditional PC Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, 2025 vs.2024 (Preliminary results, shipments are in millions of units)
Company	2025 Shipments	2025 Market Share	2024 Shipments	2024 Market Share	2025/2024 Growth
1. Lenovo	70.8	24.9%	61.8	23.5%	14.5%
2. HP Inc.	57.5	20.2%	53.0	20.1%	8.4%
3. Dell Technologies	41.1	14.4%	39.1	14.8%	5.2%
4. Apple	25.6	9.0%	23.0	8.7%	11.1%
5. Asus	20.5	7.2%	18.0	6.8%	13.4%
Others	69.3	24.3%	68.3	25.9%	1.4%
Total	284.7	100.0%	263.3	100.0%	8.1%
Source: IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, January 12, 2026