Memory Prices Jumped 110% and SSDs 147% in Q1 2026, Forcing PC Makers Into a Desperate Stockpiling Race

Global PC shipments rose 3.2% year over year in Q1 2026 to 63.3 million units.

OEMs rushed to stock up on memory before more price hikes, while Windows 10 end-of-support boosted refresh demand.

Lenovo led the market; Apple and ASUS posted strong gains, while HP declined.

Counterpoint said entry-level DDR4 prices jumped 110% and 1 TB SSD prices rose 147%, with more increases likely.

Rising component costs could squeeze margins, lift retail prices, and slow PC market growth later in 2026.