Global notebook (NB) shipments in the second quarter of 2026, excluding detachable models, exceeded expectations and increased 6.9% from the previous quarter. Because NB brands and channel partners expected NB production costs to continue rising in the second half of 2026, while cost increases in the second quarter remained relatively moderate, they accelerated inventory build, pushing second-quarter global NB shipments above the original forecast. Education models also posted a clear sequential increase as the market entered the traditional peak season for education tenders, and some first-quarter orders delayed by component shortages were shipped in the second quarter.
Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2026, the higher shipment base created by aggressive second-quarter stocking by NB brands and channel partners, together with planned price increases across both the Windows PC and MacBook segments, is expected to weigh on consumer-model shipments. Education models will also weaken as the tender market enters the off-season, with shipments likely to decline by more than 30%, leaving business demand as the only segment with some replacement activity.
This report covers supply and demand factors that impact the shipment outlook for notebooks, as well as the performance of key brands and ODMs.
