According to a recent research report by Bloomberg tech analyst Woo Jin Ho, major PC manufacturers including Dell Technologies Inc., Lenovo Group Ltd., and HP Inc. are equipped to navigate potential DRAM market disruptions. The report highlights that leading PC makers such as Lenovo, Dell, HP, Apple, and Acer benefit from healthy inventory levels, procurement scale advantages due to their dominant market share, and the ability to pass on cost increases to customers. These factors position them to mitigate the impact of expected DRAM price hikes in the second half of 2026.
Thanks to their purchasing power and economies of scale, the top five PC manufacturers—Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple, and Acer—are likely to gain marginal market share growth. Their strong presence in server, smartphone, and enterprise storage markets further enhances their procurement capabilities, potentially securing priority access to memory supplies. Meanwhile, smaller manufacturers, which account for approximately 25% of the market (representing 65–70 million PCs), may face higher premium costs for memory procurement, limiting their ability to compete on pricing. This dynamic could create opportunities for leading brands to expand their share in mid-to-low-tier segments.
The report forecasts that AI PCs will comprise 54% of total shipments in 2026, up from 34% in 2025. Within this segment, AI PCs with computing power below 40 TOPS are expected to make up 32% of total shipments, accounting for 62% of AI PC demand. Beyond AI adoption, Windows 11 upgrades are projected to remain a key driver for Dell, Lenovo, and HP’s shipments in 2026. The current Windows 11 adoption rate lags behind previous cycles, with 35%–40% of Windows PCs still running older operating systems. The upgrade cycle is expected to support shipment volumes, particularly for these three leaders in the commercial PC space, which collectively hold 75% of global commercial PC shipments over the past 12 months.
While commercial customers typically exhibit strong brand loyalty and less price sensitivity compared to consumer markets, PC manufacturers will continue optimizing configurations to sustain demand and maximize sales amid rising PC prices.
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