5 Expectations for the PC/Laptop/Tablet Market in 2026
AI, tariffs, and processor innovations—what’s next for client computing markets.
The client computing market is entering a pivotal transition as post-COVID refresh cycles conclude. With a cooling tablet segment and the end of PC upgrades, replacement cycles are expected to reach historically low levels by 2026.
What You’ll Learn:
In this webinar, TechInsights experts outlined five critical developments shaping the PC, laptop, and tablet markets, providing actionable insights for strategists, designers, and executives navigating this dynamic landscape.
Expansion of On-Device AI – Beyond integrated NPUs, discrete NPUs and GPUs will handle AI workloads alongside graphics processing.
Tariff-Related Pricing Impacts – How higher U.S. tariffs could depress demand or force vendors and retailers to absorb margins.
Mid-Market Opportunities – Vendors traditionally focused on high-end commercial and AI PCs may find untapped potential in underserved segments.
Alternative Processor Architectures – Chinese OEMs adopting HiSilicon Kirin processors and testing RISC-V may influence market dynamics.
Challenges to x86 Dominance – Arm processors from Qualcomm, Apple, and collaborations like NVIDIA-MediaTek could reshape the landscape.
Whether you’re a strategist, designer, or executive, this webinar will help you anticipate disruption, adapt your roadmap, and lead in client computing markets.
Meet the presenters
Eric Smith
Director, Connected Computing Devices Research
Eric has over 11 years of industry experience, acquiring extensive knowledge and expertise in the tablet, 2-in-1, and notebook PC segments. Eric delivers high quality analysis and data that companies rely on to accurately plan production schedules, marketing initiatives, and performance metrics among many other things. He provides market sizing, forecasting, connectivity trends, insights, and research to vendors, suppliers, operators, investors, and media.
Jack Narcotta
Head of Consumer Electronics Market Analysis
With over 20 years of tech sector experience, Jack helps clients find opportunities in a highly competitive and turbulent market. Jack enjoys having the ability to collaborate and provide a thorough understanding of the ripple effects produced by the rapidly changing consumer electronics market. He has a passion for uncovering the deeper stories beneath the data.
Anand Joshi
AI Technology Analyst
Anand Joshi is an AI Technology Analyst with over 25 years of semiconductor experience. As an artificial intelligence industry veteran, he leads AI coverage at TechInsights through thorough analysis and groundbreaking predictions on AI semiconductors. Anand creates logical solutions for future AI technology market potential and strategy.
Stacy Wegner
Senior Technology Analyst
Stacy Wegner is the Senior Technology Analyst at TechInsights’ Teardown division, responsible for ensuring the highly technical data produced by our analysts is transformed into consumable competitive intelligence. Stacy has an extensive background in advanced technology devices, marketplace analysis, and TechInsights products and practices.
Dr. Porter Seo
Senior Technical Fellow, Logic
Dr. Porter Seo is a compute and logic semiconductor expert with nearly 30 years of industry experience. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, specializing in device physics and lithography, and has led innovations across DRAM, foundry, and DTCO development. His expertise spans circuit design, standard cell architecture, SRAM, and analog conception, with a career bridging design and manufacturing.
Once you’ve watched the 5 Expectations... what’s next?
That’s where TechInsights comes in. As the client computing market enters a pivotal transition—post-COVID refresh cycles ending, tablet momentum cooling, and replacement cycles reaching historic lows—the PC/Laptop/Tablet Outlook Report helps you transform market uncertainty into strategic advantage.
Our experts break down the forces reshaping PCs, laptops, and tablets, including the expansion of on-device AI, tariff-related pricing pressures, opportunities emerging in the mid-market, alternative processor architectures from Chinese OEMs, and the growing challenge to x86 dominance from Arm-based competitors. The result: clear, actionable insight to help you redesign roadmaps, optimize portfolios, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Already a subscriber? Log in to access the complete Outlook Report series—including the full PC/Laptop/Tablet Report—and connect with your account manager to understand how these technology, supply chain, and architectural shifts will influence your future platforms and product decisions.
Ready to elevate your competitive advantage? View the full 2026 PC/Laptop/Tablet Outlook Report for exclusive insights, expert analysis, and strategic guidance to help you build the next generation of faster, smarter, more efficient client devices.
Don’t just react to the automotive market—lead it.
Watch the on-demand webinar for this exclusive compute outlook.
Originally aired: December 9, 2025
