TL;DR
IDC reports global PC shipments climbed almost 10% year-over-year in Q4 2025 to 76.4 million units. The rise was driven by Windows 10 end-of-support demand and manufacturers pulling inventory forward amid looming tariffs and a global memory squeeze tied to AI data center demand.
What happened
The PC market unexpectedly finished the holiday quarter with stronger shipments than analysts anticipated. IDC's numbers show unit shipments increased by nearly 10% year-over-year in Q4 2025, totaling 76.4 million machines. Two main forces accelerated demand: Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, which prompted upgrades, and PC vendors moving to secure components and finished systems ahead of possible tariffs and a tightening global memory supply. Memory categories including DRAM and NAND/SSD have seen price pressure after cloud and AI data center spending tightened availability. Major vendors such as Lenovo and HP have been accumulating memory inventory, but IDC says those stockpiles are likely to be exhausted within months. As a result, manufacturers are preparing for higher system prices and may alter average system configurations to conserve memory. Research firm IDC now expects average selling prices for PCs to rise during 2026 as makers shift emphasis toward midrange and premium models.
Why it matters
- Higher memory costs and depleted stockpiles are likely to push up PC prices for consumers and enterprises.
- Manufacturers may reduce memory specifications or change configurations to stretch existing inventory, affecting performance expectations.
- The supply shock is tied to AI data center demand, linking broader AI investment cycles to consumer PC availability and pricing.
- Buyers considering a new PC may face higher costs later in 2026; timing purchases could affect value received.
Key facts
- IDC reports Q4 2025 global PC shipments rose nearly 10% year-over-year to 76.4 million units.
- Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 contributed to upgrade-driven demand in the holiday quarter.
- PC makers accelerated shipments and component purchases to mitigate potential tariffs and memory shortages.
- Prices for DRAM and NAND/SSD have surged as AI data center demand tightened memory supplies.
- Vendors including Lenovo and HP have been stockpiling memory to meet near-term demand.
- IDC says current memory stockpiles will likely be exhausted within a few months.
- Manufacturers may lower average memory specifications to preserve inventory on hand.
- IDC expects average selling prices (ASPs) for PCs to rise in 2026 as companies prioritize higher-margin midrange and premium systems.
- IDC characterizes the year ahead as potentially very volatile for the PC market.
What to watch next
- Trajectory of DRAM and NAND/SSD prices over the coming months as posted inventory is used up.
- Announcements from major PC makers about price increases, product configuration changes, or memory-spec revisions.
- Supply-chain developments tied to tariffs or trade actions that could further prompt inventory pull-forward or cost adjustments.
Quick glossary
- DRAM (RAM): A type of volatile memory used by computers to store working data; higher capacities generally improve multitasking and performance.
- NAND / SSD: Non-volatile flash storage used in solid‑state drives; NAND shortages can raise SSD prices and limit storage options.
- Average Selling Price (ASP): The mean price at which a product category is sold, used by analysts to track price trends and revenue impact.
- End of support: When a software vendor stops providing updates and security fixes for a product, often prompting users to upgrade to supported versions.
- IDC: An industry research firm that tracks technology market shipments, pricing, and trends.
Reader FAQ
Why did PC shipments rise in Q4 2025?
IDC attributes the increase to Windows 10 end-of-support upgrades and vendors pulling inventory forward amid tariff concerns and memory shortages.
Are PC prices expected to increase in 2026?
Yes — IDC expects average selling prices for PCs to rise in 2026 as manufacturers contend with higher memory costs and shift toward midrange and premium systems.
Are memory shortages linked to AI demand?
The source states that AI data center demand contributed to tighter memory supplies, affecting DRAM and NAND/SSD availability and prices.
Will PC memory specifications change?
IDC research leadership indicated manufacturers might lower average memory specifications to preserve inventory, so changes are possible.
Should I wait to buy a new PC?
The article suggests buying sooner rather than later if you're planning a purchase, given expected price increases, but individual timing and needs are not detailed in the source.
NEWS GAMING TECH PC shipments just grew unexpectedly amid RAM shortages IDC expects the PC market to be volatile this year ahead of anticipated price increases. by Tom Warren Jan…
Sources
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