PC Shipments Forecast Slashed to 257M; AI PCs to Fuel Apple’s Premium Growth
Goldman Sachs cuts 2026 PC shipment forecast to 257 million units, down 10% yoy, driven by rising memory costs and a flattening replacement cycle after a 2025 upgrade surge. It forecasts AI-capable PCs will reach 150 million units in 2026 (59% penetration), driving premium growth and benefiting Apple’s PC strategy.
1. PC Shipment Forecast Cuts
Global PC shipment forecasts for 2026 have been trimmed to 257 million units, marking a 10% year-on-year decline as manufacturers face a flattening replacement cycle following a 2025 upgrade surge and rising memory costs that squeeze margins on entry-level hardware.
2. AI PC Growth Projections
Despite the overall market downturn, AI-capable PCs are projected to reach 150 million shipments in 2026, capturing 59% of the market, with expectations to grow to 81% penetration by 2028 as demand for edge computing intensifies in the premium segment.
3. Implications for Apple
Apple’s position in the high-end PC segment is set to benefit from the AI PC trend, as higher price points and edge computing features allow the company to sustain margins and capture a larger share of the premium hardware market.