Apple saw strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with Mac shipments growing faster than the broader PC market. According to IDC estimates, Apple shipped around 6.2 million Macs during the quarter, marking roughly 9 percent year over year growth. That performance pushed Apple’s global PC market share to 9.5 percent, up from 8.9 percent a year earlier.
This growth stands out when compared to the overall PC market, which expanded by just 2.5 percent in the same period. While the industry is still growing, the pace has slowed due to rising costs, supply constraints, and broader economic pressure. Apple, however, continues to benefit from recent Mac updates and a more competitive product lineup across different price tiers.
A key factor behind this growth appears to be Apple’s recent hardware cycle. The introduction of M5-powered MacBook Pro models late last year helped drive demand into early 2026. Updates to the MacBook Air lineup and the introduction of more accessible options like the MacBook Neo also contributed, even if some of those devices only partially impacted first quarter numbers. Buyers and businesses also moved quickly to purchase devices ahead of expected price increases tied to component shortages.
| Top 5 Companies, Worldwide Traditional PC Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q1 2026 (Preliminary results, shipments are in millions of units) | |||||
| Company | 1Q26 Shipments | 1Q26 Market Share | 1Q25 Shipments | 1Q25 Market Share | 1Q26/1Q25 Growth |
| 1. Lenovo | 16.5 | 25.2% | 15.2 | 23.8% | 8.6% |
| 2. HP Inc | 12.1 | 18.5% | 12.8 | 20.0% | -4.9% |
| 3. Dell Technologies | 10.3 | 15.7% | 9.6 | 14.9% | 7.7% |
| 4. Apple | 6.2 | 9.5% | 5.7 | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 5. ASUS | 4.8 | 7.2% | 4.1 | 6.3% | 17.1% |
| Others | 15.7 | 23.9% | 16.7 | 26.1% | -6.2% |
| Total | 65.6 | 100.0% | 64.0 | 100.0% | 2.5% |
| Source: IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, April 8, 2026 | |||||
The broader PC market is facing increasing pressure from a global memory shortage and rising logistics costs. IDC notes that access to core components like RAM will play a major role in determining which companies can sustain shipment volumes through the rest of the year. Vendors with stronger supply chains are expected to perform better as availability tightens and prices climb.
Despite these challenges, Apple managed to outperform most of its competitors. It ranked as the fourth largest PC vendor globally, behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell. While Lenovo and Dell also posted growth, HP saw a decline in shipments during the quarter, highlighting uneven performance across the industry.
There are also signs that supply constraints are starting to affect Apple’s own lineup. Some higher-end Mac configurations, particularly those with increased memory, are seeing longer delivery times. This suggests that even Apple is not fully insulated from the ongoing component crunch, which could impact availability and margins in the coming quarters.
Looking ahead, IDC expects PC shipments to decline later in 2026 as rising system prices begin to slow demand. Still, Apple’s current trajectory suggests it may continue to outperform the market, especially if it maintains strong demand for its latest Macs and manages supply effectively. The company’s next earnings report at the end of April should provide a clearer picture of how these trends are playing out.
