According to the latest figures from Omdia, PC shipments in mainland China climbed 11% year-over-year during the second quarter of 2026, reaching 11.4 million units. Within this total, desktop computer shipments posted a robust 42% expansion, which helped offset a 2% decline in laptop shipments, with the two categories recording 4.3 million and 7.1 million units, respectively.

Simultaneously, the mainland China tablet market experienced a 13% year-over-year drop in shipments to 8 million units, a downturn driven by weakening demand and persistent supply chain hurdles. Omdia's latest projections indicate that total PC shipments across mainland China for the full year of 2026 are expected to fall by 6% to 39.7 million units. Tablet shipments for the entire year are also anticipated to decline by 10%, settling at 32.5 million units.

The mainland China PC market's performance in the second quarter of 2026 exceeded expectations, largely thanks to sturdy commercial demand, a segment that saw shipments surge by 29%. This growth was significantly fueled by a spike in demand for device replacements tied to the nation's Information Technology Application Innovation (信创) initiative, a program aimed at advancing the adoption of domestically produced IT technologies. In contrast, the consumer segment displayed relative weakness, with shipments contracting by 2%.

Senior Analyst Emma Xu at Omdia remarked, "Commercial PC demand in mainland China, particularly from large enterprises and government bodies, continues to underpin overall market growth. Consumer market demand has softened this year as the impact of government subsidies fades and prices climb. However, inventory stockpiling by vendors and channel partners, undertaken to lock in lower prices and mitigate the risk of further cost increases, helped avert a steeper decline in the consumer segment during the second quarter."

Xu added, "After several years of expansion, the tablet market is encountering greater headwinds. Consumer demand is weakening, and the room for manufacturers to prop up sales through promotional campaigns is narrowing. As market penetration reaches historic highs and demand shifts increasingly from first-time purchases to replacement cycles, the tablet market is moving into a more mature and steady phase of development."

Omdia forecasts that the mainland China PC market will see shipments decline by 6% in 2026, with consumer-grade PC shipments expected to drop by 10%. Growth in the commercial sector is predicted to partially offset the overall market's sluggishness. Meanwhile, the mainland China tablet market is projected to contract by 10% in 2026, constrained by weak demand and ongoing supply limitations.