Apple shipped 6.2 million Macs in the first quarter of 2026, a solid 9% increase from last year's 5.7 million, with the base M5 powered MacBook Pro leading sales. According to IDC's latest figures, that growth significantly outpaced the overall PC market, which managed only 2.5% growth in the same January to March period.

Apple's market share climbed to 9.5%, moving the company into fourth place among global PC makers. That closes the gap with industry leaders (Lenovo, HP, and Dell) and signals strong consumer demand for Apple's custom silicon lineup. The performance reflects the company's integrated approach to designing both hardware and processors in house.

IDC analysts credit the surge to the M5 chip's combination of performance and power efficiency. HP was the only major player to post a decline this quarter, underscoring Apple's relative strength. The company's control over hardware, silicon, and software development provides a distinct competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded market.

Key figures from Q1 2026: Lenovo led the industry with 16.5 million units shipped, followed by HP with 12.1 million (down from the prior year) and Dell with 10.3 million. Apple's 6.2 million units represented a 9% year over year increase, lifting its market share from 8.9% to 9.5%.

Apple will publish its full quarterly earnings report on April 30, 2026, which will include sales of the recently released MacBook Neo, the refreshed M5 MacBook Air, and the higher end Pro models that launched March 11. Industry observers will be watching whether this momentum continues into Q2 and how it affects the competitive landscape among PC manufacturers. IDC's current data covers only traditional computers and excludes these late quarter product launches, meaning Apple's actual performance may be even stronger when complete figures are released.