Apple Mac Sales Surge in Q1 2026

Apple experienced a 9 percent growth in Mac shipments during the first quarter of 2026, according to estimated shipment data from IDC. This growth rate outpaced the overall PC market, which saw a total growth of 2.5 percent during the same period.

The increase was largely driven by the release of the M5 MacBook Pro in late 2025. While Apple also refreshed the MacBook Air and higher-end MacBook Pro models, these updates occurred too recently to significantly impact the first quarter 2026 figures.

Market Share and Global Rankings

Apple shipped 6.2 million Macs in the first quarter of 2026, an increase from 5.7 million in the first quarter of 2025. This represents a year-over-year increase of approximately 9.1 percent.

As a result of these shipments, Apple’s share of the global PC market rose to 9.5 percent, up from 8.9 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Apple currently ranks as the fourth-largest PC vendor globally.

The top three positions in the worldwide traditional PC market are held by Lenovo, HP, and Dell. According to IDC data, the shipments for these vendors were as follows:

• Lenovo: 16.5 million PCs shipped (8.6% growth)
• HP: 12.1 million PCs shipped (4.9% decline)
• Dell: 10.3 million PCs shipped (7.7% increase)

While Apple saw strong gains, ASUS recorded the largest jump among its peers with a 17.1 percent year-over-year increase, reaching a 7.2 percent market share and ranking fifth overall.

Industry Challenges and Component Shortages

Despite the growth seen by several vendors, IDC reports that the PC market is facing headwinds from deteriorating economic conditions and component shortages. These factors have led to a sharp decline in growth trends across every region.

the strength of every PC vendor’s supply chain and ability to access core components, such as memory, will be tested

IDC

IDC suggests that the remainder of 2026 will likely see further declines in PC shipments as system prices continue to rise. The firm noted that vendors who have secured access to memory and possess a portfolio capable of addressing all market price tiers will be best positioned to navigate this decline.

For Apple, these supply chain pressures have manifested as limited availability for certain Mac models, specifically those requiring greater customization or higher RAM configurations.

Broader Financial Context

The growth in Mac shipments contributes to a broader period of financial strength for Apple. The company has seen record Q1 2026 financials, propelled by its Services division and staggering demand for the iPhone, which drove a 16 percent surge in sales.

IDC’s figures include traditional PCs such as workstations, notebooks, and desktops, but exclude tablets like the iPad. Because Apple no longer provides specific quarterly device sales figures, these numbers remain estimates.

Apple is scheduled to release its next earnings report on April 30, 2026.