US PC market recovery reaches peak through Windows 11 upgrades as Dell and Apple gain share before 2026 supply constraints impact shipments
The US PC market experienced a significant recovery during the last quarter of 2025, which saw shipment volumes increase by 3 percent on an annual basis. Omdia's research shows that the total volume for the quarter reached 18.2 million units. The organization achieved this turnaround by which they fixed declining shipment figures from earlier in the year. The organization achieved this turnaround by which they fixed declining shipment figures from earlier in the year.
The business experiencing this situation, according to research manager Kieren Jessop, represents an essential turning point that produced vital changes for the entire industry. Corporate demand rose by four percent as businesses hurried to complete their transition to Windows 11 before the official end of support for windows 10 operating systems in October. The consumer sector achieved better performance for the business sector by increasing sales by six percent, which achieved eight point two million units sold through the holiday shopping season because shoppers selected lower priced equipment.
The competitive landscape shifted significantly during this growth period. HP achieved a market share of 25 percent which allowed it to maintain its market leadership position, but its annual growth rate remained stable at 1 percent. Dell experienced the most dramatic surge, increasing its shipments by twenty two percent to secure a twenty five percent market share. The organization achieved this success because large enterprise deals drove its business and customers responded positively to its premium hardware products.
Apple emerged as a primary disruptor throughout the full year, capturing eleven percent of the total business market. The business grew substantially because of M4 MacBook Air's low pricing to customers after they raised its price after the previous year. Apple established itself as a competitor to standard entry level products by developing a product that offers double the memory of these devices, which he priced at 999 dollars. The introduction of the Neo model at five hundred and ninety nine dollars is expected to further influence the budget segment in the coming months.
The forecasting for 2026 shows a negative trend despite the organization achieving recent successes. Omdia expects total shipments to drop by thirteen percent to approximately sixty one point nine million units. The market experiences this expected decline because the component market encounters extreme prices fluctuations, which especially affects storage and memory products. The essential parts experienced a price increase of up to 70 percent in 2025, while another price increase of 60 percent is expected to occur in early 2026.
The education and entry level consumer segments will experience the most severe impact from these rising costs. The education sector showed signs of stabilization in late 2025, but the increased cost of manufacturing will likely squeeze margins for smaller vendors. Smaller manufacturers may find it difficult to secure inventory as larger players receive priority allocation for scarce components. The domestic PC market will experience a modest recovery by 2027, but manufacturers must handle the component price increases which create significant challenges for their operations.
