Overview
- Global PC shipments are now forecast to fall 11.3% in 2026 compared with 2025, a sharp downgrade from earlier IDC projections.
- Despite fewer units, IDC expects the PC market’s value to rise to about $274 billion in 2026 due to higher average selling prices.
- Tablet shipments are projected to drop 7.6% this year, with total tablet market value estimated at $66.8 billion.
- IDC anticipates some price relief beginning in 2028, but analysts do not expect a return to 2025 pricing levels.
- The forecast was finalized before the recent Middle East escalation, which IDC notes could further strain supply chains and force additional downgrades; industry reports already cite manufacturers raising prices and scaling back lower‑end models.