Skip to main content TechRadar the technology experts Search TechRadar View Profile België (Nederlands) Deutschland North America US (English) Australasia New Zealand Tech Radar Pro Tech Radar Gaming World Password Day Nintendo Switch 2 Best laptop NYT Wordle today Desktop PCs Tariffs could further disrupt the stability of the PC hardware market - and this new study suggests it's best to buy right now Isaiah Williams GPUs could be hit the hardest When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) A new IDC study shows an increase in desktop PC and laptop sales in North America compared to Q1 2024 This is likely a result of US tariff uncertainty, with manufacturers warning consumers about possible shortages There's a chance that the 90-day pause could be turned back While the PC hardware market has always had cases of high demand for certain desktop components (notably GPUs) and laptops, it's arguably now hitting unprecedented levels due to US tariffs, and a new study corroborates this. As reported by NotebookCheck, evidence from IDC (which tracks hardware sales) suggests that desktop and laptop sales in North America have spiked since US tariffs were implemented, and manufacturers have also warned consumers about potential shortages in supply, effectively leading to panic buying. The study shows that in Q1 2025, compared to Q1 2024, laptop sales have increased by 26.9%, and desktops rose by 35.3%. This appears to stem from a fear that prices may suddenly skyrocket or, worse, sales may be paused. We've seen this happen with Razer, which previously halted its laptop sales due to US tariffs. You may like PC enthusiasts, be worried – Framework and Razer are halting laptop sales due to tariffs, and I fear what will come next Trump's tariffs may be paused, but that won't stop GPUs being overpriced and expensive PC sales could be set to fall this year, but Trump tariffs aren't the only reason why Notably, there is still a 90-day pause active on larger tariffs, while the 10% base tariff on imports to the US remains. However, there's uncertainty about whether this will be undone, which could affect sales of PC hardware. A large majority of PC hardware manufacturing takes place in China, and tariffs are now up to 145% on all of its imports into the US. It's no surprise, then, to see sales hike significantly, before matters spiral out of control - and based on the trend of the GPU market, it might be a good idea to buy any PC hardware at retail price while things are relatively stable - as who knows what chaos the US tarrifs could unleash if they are reinstated. (Image credit: Ninma) Now is the best time to buy what you need, just not at any ridiculous pricing Demand for PC hardware is arguably at the highest it's been (particularly compared to the Covid-19 period), but the one thing we must not do is purchase overpriced products. While I'll say that this is particularly true when it comes to GPUs, with prices soaring far above what they launched at, the same applies to pre-built desktop PCs and laptops. Fortunately, I've not seen cases of either pre-built systems or laptops being obscenely overpriced, which is probably because they've always been slightly expensive to begin with (especially high-end configurations). Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. I'm sure we all hope tariffs don't get out of hand, and since there's not much clarity on how the PC market will be impacted in the near future, now could be the best time to jump on any appealing hardware deals you find. You may also like... Nvidia's RTX 5060 8GB GPU is rumored to launch at $299 - but history suggests it will cost more at retailers Heads up Nvidia fans: multiple RTX 5000 series GPUs are available at retail price on Overclockers UK Is Nvidia's GPU supply drought finally ending? A new leak hints at more RTX 5000 series GPUs being restocked See more Computing News Isaiah Williams Social Links Navigation Staff Writer, Computing Isaiah is a Staff Writer for the Computing channel at TechRadar. He's spent over two years writing about all things tech, specifically games on PC, consoles, and handhelds. He started off at GameRant in 2022 after graduating from Birmingham City University in the same year, before writing at PC Guide which included work on deals articles, reviews, and news on PC products such as GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and more. He spends most of his time finding out about the exciting new features of upcoming GPUs, and is passionate about new game releases on PC, hoping that the ports aren't a complete mess. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. PC enthusiasts, be worried – Framework and Razer are halting laptop sales due to tariffs, and I fear what will come next Trump's tariffs may be paused, but that won't stop GPUs being overpriced and expensive PC sales could be set to fall this year, but Trump tariffs aren't the only reason why Acer CEO warns of 10% laptop price hike due to Trump tariffs Are iPhone prices safe? 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