### Apple’s Expansion in the PC Sector Despite Component Shortages
A recent IDC report sheds light on the trends within the PC sector during the first quarter of 2026, indicating that although the overall market saw slight year-over-year growth in shipments, Apple stood out with considerable advancements.
#### Effects of Component Shortages on the PC Sector
As per the IDC report, Apple dispatched 6.2 million Macs in Q1 2026, representing a 9.1% rise compared to the previous year, which boosted its market share to 9.5%, up from 8.9%. In comparison, ASUS experienced the most significant rise among rivals, achieving a 17.1% growth in shipments and seizing a 7.2% market share.
Nevertheless, Apple and ASUS ranked fourth and fifth in IDC’s global traditional PC shipments, falling behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Lenovo topped the market with 16.5 million shipments and an 8.6% growth rate, trailed by HP with 12.1 million shipments, which experienced a 4.9% drop, and Dell with 10.3 million shipments, showing a 7.7% increase.
IDC mentioned that while the first quarter revealed positive growth, component shortages and challenging economic conditions are starting to influence the PC market, resulting in a slowdown of growth trends across all regions. The organization predicts further declines in PC shipments as system prices keep escalating. The report underscores that the robustness of each vendor’s supply chain and access to essential components, especially memory, will be vital in overcoming these obstacles.
#### Consequences for Apple
For Apple, the repercussions of component shortages have been noticeable, particularly concerning the availability of Macs with enhanced RAM configurations or custom options. Certain Mac Studio configurations are presently back-ordered for up to five months, indicating severe supply limitations.
During its latest earnings conference call, Apple expressed optimism regarding the shortages but admitted that the effect on its margins would be more significant in the March quarter. The company’s upcoming earnings report is set for April 30, where component shortages are anticipated to be a central theme in the post-earnings dialogue.
For those wishing to explore the data further, the complete IDC report can be found [here](https://www.idc.com/resource-center/press-releases/1q26-pc-top5/).