PC shipments rose unexpectedly amid RAM shortages

The PC market is getting ready A turbulent year is comingBut shipments managed to exceed expectations in the latest holiday quarter. IDC reports Shipments grew nearly 10 percent year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025, reaching 76.4 million in total.

Microsoft End of support for Windows 10 It undoubtedly helped boost PC shipments, but IDC notes that PC makers have also aggressively pulled inventory forward to combat potential tariffs and a global memory shortage.

“Although the holiday season typically drives demand, the late-2025 surge was further amplified by an emerging memory shortage that prompted buyers and brands to lock in inventory ahead of expected price increases in 2026,” IDC says.

RAM and NAND/SSD prices have risen in recent months due to shortages resulting from demand for AI data centers. PC makers like Lenovo and HP are stockpiling memory, but these stocks will likely run out within a few months and lead to price increases and perhaps even changes in computer configuration.

“Besides the obvious pressure on system prices, already announced by some manufacturers, we may also see PC memory specifications being reduced on average to conserve available memory stock,” says Jean-Philippe Bouchard, vice president of research at IDC. “Next year looks very volatile.”

IDC now expects average PC selling prices to rise in 2026 as PC makers shift priority to mid-range and premium systems to offset rising memory costs. All this refers to AI-driven storm for the PC market throughout 2026. If you’re thinking about buying a new PC, it may be better to make your purchase sooner rather than later this year.