Two closely watched PC market reports released in April painted what looked like an encouraging picture for the device market, and by extension, the downstream ITAD and recycling channels that process those devices at end of life. Both Gartner and IDC reported year-over-year shipment growth in the first quarter of 2026.
The PC Market’s “Memflation” Moment: Why Q1 Shipment Growth Is a Mirage
PC shipment data from Gartner and IDC suggests a healthy market on the surface, but both firms warn that Q1 2026 growth is being driven by inventory build, rising memory costs, and Windows 10 migration rather than real demand.
For ITAD and recycling executives, memflation is likely to boost residual values for Windows 11-capable enterprise fleets even as a large cohort of non-upgradeable Windows 10 devices tilts toward materials recovery, while shifting vendor share, growing Apple volumes, and geopolitical freight shocks force a rethink of pricing, logistics, and Apple-specific capabilities over the next 18–36 months.
Markets: Less premium smartphone inventory is reaching recyclers
Assurant’s latest mobile trade-in data shows that the best smartphones are being pulled into reuse and refurbishment channels sooner as the scrap stream is getting thinner and rougher, and value is moving upstream fast.
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