Time to Buy? PC Prices Fall Amid Decreasing Demand

After experiencing a pandemic sales boom, the PC market is facing tough times due to waning demand. But in good news for consumers, weak sales mean deep PC discounts.

The average selling price (ASP) for PCs hit(Opens in a new window) a high of $910 in Q1 2022 amid component shortages. But now, it's “expected to be $853 in 2023…down 4% from last year,” IDC analyst Ryan Reith tells PCMag. “We do expect PC ASPs to continue to drop as we head into 2024, so perhaps there will be a better time for consumers to purchase.”

“With the shortage abruptly turning into surplus, we've seen prices come down due to liquidation and mix regression,” IDC researcher Linn Huang says in a Tuesday report(Opens in a new window). 

IDC blames the low demand on both consumers and businesses tightening their budgets due to inflation and a shaky economy. Many people also bought new computers only a year or two ago during the pandemic, reducing the need to upgrade and resulting in product oversupply. 

So if you’re in the market for a new PC, keep an eye out for retailers offering discounts in an effort to clear inventory. “The thing to look for is promotional activity,” Reith says. “Many channels have elevated inventory and different brands will work at different times to offer promotions around their products to help with the inventory problem.”

IDC adds that if you combine both PCs and tablets, the average selling price for the products is expected to reach $700 for this year, down from $721 a year before. “This would mark the first ASP decline for a full year since 2015,” Huang adds.

The next big time to save will probably be Prime Day this summer. Amazon hasn't announced official sale dates yet, but you can already save on a few laptops.