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Cybersecurity in 2026: AI fight on both sides

2026-07-09T12:07:58Z

Our recent Weekly IT Webinar highlighted a pressing issue for the industry: In 2026, European cybersecurity faced critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. Incidents involving digital intrusions, such as the ransomware attack on Foxconn and the breach of the Canvas educational platform, resulted in the exposure of nearly 8 terabytes of data, affecting approximately 275 million users globally.

The integration of advanced AI into cyberattacks has escalated concerns. As a primary measure, the European Commission secured tailored access to OpenAI's security models, which deploy algorithms to identify gaps before exploitation. The main goal is to accelerate fault detection through testing, ensuring uniformity. On top of that, encryption and automated response mechanisms now offer an additional layer of integrity.

This combative environment is reshaping Cybersecurity and corporate procurement: businesses are prioritising data protection over traditional architectures, leading to an 18% YTD growth in Identity and Access Management, along with a 13% increase for Data Security. In contrast, usual segments are gradually declining, as evidenced by a drop in Network Security.

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have further solidified their dominance, maintaining a 17% YoY expansion. This trend is particularly evident in Europe’s big five, with Italy experiencing a 67% increase and Germany following with a notable 39% rise in 2026.

The reliance on specialised external partners indicates a bigger change in organisational strategy. As companies recognise that navigating this landscape requires expertise beyond internal teams, they are turning to dedicated services. An evolution that is essential for maintaining resilience in the face of AI-augmented risks.

Our webinars provide crucial updates on trends, developments, and key highlights that will enhance your strategy. This is just one of the solutions CONTEXT offers to drive your growth. Sign up now.

Quarterly Global Industrial 3D Printer Shipments Surge on the Back of Strong Defence and 3C Sector Demand

2026-07-09T08:58:32Z

London, 9 July 2026 – The global 3D printer market experienced robust growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by an explosive Entry-level segment and accelerating demand for high-end Industrial systems. According to the latest analysis by global market intelligence firm CONTEXT, the industry enjoyed a +32% year-on-year (YoY) gain in total hardware system revenues. Most of the growth came by way of accelerated Entry-level shipments, with a +39% unit growth translating into a +54% surge in revenues. Additionally, Industrial revenues rose nicely, up +23% from a year ago on the back of an +18% increase in unit shipments.

"The current market presents a disparate demand outlook," said Chris Connery, VP of Global Analysis at CONTEXT. "While some vendors report exceptionally strong demand, especially related to global conflicts and defence initiatives, others report challenges associated with the many unknowns including ongoing global conflicts, fears of rising inflation, higher interest rates impacting capital investments, and a sluggish European economic environment. However, the strong performance of the Industrial sector, marking its third consecutive quarter of growth after two years of declines, is a clear indicator of the technology's continued integration into volume production.”

Industrial Systems

Global shipments of Industrial price-class systems (>$100K) were up +18% in Q1-26. Nine out of the top ten global vendors shipped more units in Q1-26 than a year ago and Industrial shipments were up across all major regions: China +29%, North America +9% and Western Europe +11%. China remains the world’s largest market for Industrial 3D Printer system shipments, with most of its demand fulfilled by domestic suppliers.

Metals: Industrial Metal system shipments rose +10% YoY in Q1-26. Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) remains the dominant technology, accounting for 81% of the total Industrial Metals market, with Metal PBF unit shipments up +24% YoY. Western leader EOS had a strong quarter seeing its Metal shipments more than doubled from a year ago, and separately announced the biggest contract in its history, with a defence drone maker. Some reports even indicate Metal PBF demand is outstripping supply in the West, suggesting 2026 may be supply-limited as machine OEMs catch up on production. In China, HBD, Farsoon and BLT all saw strong YoY shipment growth with the latter two citing incredibly strong demand in the 3C sector (Computer, Communication, and Consumer Electronics.) This demand, strong in Q4-25 and carrying over into Q1-26, was reportedly mostly for the production of titanium mobile phone components, specifically hinges for foldable phones and titanium smartphone frames. While such demand in China shifted the overall market back toward lower-priced Metal PBF systems, other vendors saw continued success with more advanced system sales. Nikon SLM Solutions shipped more of its advanced, large build-volume, multi-laser NXG systems than ever before, a +42% YoY increase in unit shipments that put the company at the top of the category's revenue leaders.
Polymers: Global shipments for Industrial Polymer systems surged +31% YoY, heavily skewed by a massive shipment acceleration from Carbon thanks to growing demand for lattice-based consumer solutions (evidenced by their recent announcement of relationship with DDK for the production of bicycle saddles.) Excluding Carbon, Industrial Polymer shipments were still up a healthy +14%. Additionally seeing growth in the period was the Polymer Powder Bed Fusion space with global shipments up +30% from a year ago thanks to strength from HP and EOS, both of which saw shipments rise +100% from the year ago quarter. Drone production remains a demand catalyst for Polymer 3D printing. OEMs of Industrial Material Extrusion printers capable of high-performance polymer processing, and of Polymer Powder Bed Fusion systems, cited demand from this market as a driver of shipment growth in the period. The period also saw one of its global unit leaders in the Polymer machine space, UnionTech, issue an IPO Prospectus in hopes of going public later this year on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Midrange and Professional Systems

The middle of the market (Professional + Midrange price-classes) remained challenged mostly by the cannibalization of Material Extrusion (FDM/FFF) demand by the Entry-level. That is changing, though, as new product introductions and corporate consolidation reshape the segment.

Midrange ($20K–$100K): Global shipments dropped -6% YoY. The Polymer PBF sub-segment, however, is running hot, with shipments up +48% YoY. This new Midrange price class for production Polymer-PBF machines is becoming crowded: Formlabs has entered with its newly announced Fuse X1, and HP has announced its forthcoming sub-$60K Jet Fusion 1200. Both will join solutions from Raise3D, which had strong initial shipments in the quarter as its market introduction continued, and a range of others from vendors across the globe.

Professional ($2.5K–$20K): Shipments contracted -22% YoY, and revenues fell -31%. New technology in this price class, including Composites and full-colour Material Jetting, are set to boost the segment in coming quarters. Composites look to get a lift with Stratasys' planned acquisition of Markforged from Nano Dimension.

Entry-Level Systems

The Entry-level category (≤$2,500) alone accounted for 54% of all 3D printing system revenues in the period. Global shipments were up +39% YoY. China has become to the consumer 3D printing market what Japan was to consumer electronics in the 1980s: almost all of the ingenuity, in technical advances like AI and multi-colour printing, and in price innovation, is coming out of China.

Bambu Lab continued to lead in global market share, with the top four vendors in the category, Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo, and Anycubic, collectively accounting for 88% of all printers shipped globally in the period. The strongest YoY shipment growth came from Flashforge, which saw printer shipments jump over 120% in the price class in the period. Demand is increasingly driven by massive "print farms" across the globe, from China to the US, serving as a vehicle for "local production" leveraging these Chinese-made machines. The period also saw Creality go public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 29-MAY-26, the first consumer-centric 3D printing company to do so.

*Price classes: Entry-level <$2,500; Professional $2,501 to $20,000; Midrange $20,001 to $100,000; Industrial above $100,000

The Tech Retail Disconnect: How Price Inflation and Weather Shifted the Market in May

2026-07-08T16:30:23Z

Consumer confidence across Europe is not in a good place right now. The EU consumer confidence index sat at -18.20 points in May 2026, and in France the household confidence indicator fell to 82. Neither figure suggests households are in a spending mood. In the UK, that caution showed up in physical footfall too, with total retail visits down 2.6% year-on-year. Energy bills remain the sticking point: 83% of surveyed UK consumers said rising energy costs were a concern.

None of this is new territory for anyone watching European retail over the past few years. What's interesting is how it's playing out at the till. People are still going to the shops. They're just buying less once they get there. Retail analysts have described this as a shift towards “fewer, more considered purchases”, and the tech sector's May data bears that out in a way that's worth unpacking properly.

Units down, revenue holding: the core disconnect

CONTEXT TotalMarket's pan-European data for May 2026 shows overall tech sell-out units falling 17.0% year-on-year. That's a steep drop, and a much sharper one than the 3.9% unit decline recorded the previous May. Whatever is happening in the market right now, it's accelerating.

But unit volume tells only half the story. Set it against revenue by category and a different picture emerges, one where pricing is doing a lot of work to prop up the numbers.

Notebooks lost 10.7% of unit volume, yet revenue fell by just 3.0%. Tablet PCs followed the same pattern: units down 18.2%, revenue down a smaller 14.7%. The standout case is hard disk drives. HDD unit volume dropped 17.0%, in line with the market as a whole, and yet revenue in that category actually rose 2.7% year-on-year.

That last figure is the one that should give retailers pause. A category can lose nearly a fifth of its unit sales and still grow revenue. That only happens when average selling prices are climbing fast enough to outrun the volume collapse. It's not organic demand doing that. It's price.

Component shortages are inflating prices, and it's biting consumers

The main driver behind these ASP increases is component shortages running through the tech supply chain. When key components are scarce, manufacturers and retailers pass the cost through, and prices firm up across categories even as fewer units move. On paper, that's what's keeping revenue from falling as fast as volume.

But this isn't a free lunch for the industry. Higher prices land on consumers who are already stretched by living costs and general economic anxiety. Every price rise pushes another slice of the market out of reach, and it discourages the casual, non-essential upgrade that used to make up a decent share of tech sales. A laptop that would have been replaced on a three-year cycle out of habit is now being kept for four or five years, because the household doing the calculation has better places to put its money.

So the resilience in the revenue figures is not a sign of a healthy market. It's a symptom of scarcity being passed straight to the shopper.

Then the weather changed spending patterns entirely

The second factor is more seasonal but no less real. A late-month heatwave hit in May, and consumer spending pivoted hard towards warm-weather goods: electric fans, lightweight bedding, paddling pools. None of that is unusual behaviour in isolation, people always buy fans when it gets hot, but the scale of the shift matters here because household budgets are already tight.

With less discretionary spending available overall, every pound diverted to a paddling pool or a fan is a pound that doesn't go towards a new phone, laptop or tablet. The heatwave didn't just boost one category, it cannibalised others, and technology retail absorbed a chunk of that displacement. This is what happens when consumers only have room for one or two purchases a month rather than three or four: seasonal urgency wins out over discretionary tech spend almost every time.

What this means going forward

Put the two factors together and you get a tech retail sector where volumes are contracting sharply, revenue is only holding up because of price inflation driven by supply constraints, and consumer spending is being pulled away by whatever the weather happens to be doing that week.

None of this resolves itself quickly. ASPs will only ease once component supply normalises, and there's no clear signal that's imminent. Until then, expect retail tech volumes to stay subdued, with households continuing to stretch device lifecycles and reserve their spending for purchases they genuinely need rather than ones they simply want. The May data is a snapshot of a market under real pressure, not a temporary blip.

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WWDC 2026: What Apple's Announcements Actually Mean for the European Retail Season Ahead

2026-06-26T11:11:14Z

The Numbers Are Already Moving

The €599/£599 MacBook Neo has already triggered a measurable shift in European retail momentum. This predates WWDC. The software announcements are an accelerant, not a starting gun.

CONTEXT TotalMarket sell-out revenue data shows Apple’s notebook market share jumping from 22.1% in March 2025 to 26.9% in March 2026, and accelerating further from 20.7% in April 2025 to 29.1% in April 2026. Students, SMBs, and general consumers are all buying. The WWDC software announcements now provide a toolset to push those volume gains further.

Liquid Glass and Visual Intelligence: The Shop Floor Pitch

AI enthusiasm only converts into sales if shoppers can immediately see what it does for them. That is where macOS 27 Golden Gate becomes a retailer’s best tool.

Apple’s refined “Liquid Glass” design language is showroom gold. Demonstrating granular opacity sliders, fluid physics shaders, and uniform app toolbars on the MacBook Neo’s 500-nit screen gives shoppers a satisfying, tactile feel for the everyday experience. It is visual and immediate, exactly what works when attention is short.

The more substantive demonstration is Visual Intelligence. The new dedicated keyboard shortcut lets users grab portions of their screen for instant AI contextual analysis. The overhauled Siri can now evaluate what is actively displayed on the 13-inch Liquid Retina screen, enabling retail staff to walk through fluid cross-app workflows in real time. The classic pitch: Siri pulls flight details from an on-screen email and builds a calendar event, processed entirely on-device via the A18 Pro chip. No stutter, no cloud dependency. That lands in seconds on a shop floor.

The Mac Exception: Train Staff on This Now

There is a regulatory split European retailers must understand clearly, because it is a genuine sales differentiator.

iPhone and iPad buyers in the EU face an initial feature delay for Apple Intelligence due to local regulatory frameworks. Mac users are entirely exempt. A customer purchasing the MacBook Neo in France, Germany, or Spain gets immediate, unrestricted desktop AI integration out of the box, provided the system language is initially set to English before localised language support arrives later in the year.

The Compliance Angle: Apple’s Timing Is Not Accidental

The strongest sales argument for back-to-school season may have nothing to do with AI.

Across Europe, a coordinated legislative wave is targeting minors’ access to social media. The UK is pushing an “Australia-plus” ban for under-16s that blocks high-risk features and generative AI “romantic companion” chatbots. France has restricted platforms for users under 15. Spain is advancing an under-16 ban. Greece is deploying a state-built “Kids Wallet” system by 2027.

Public backing is overwhelming. A YouGov poll from early 2026 showed support for under-16 social media bans running at 79% in France, 74% in Germany, 70% in Italy, and 68% in Spain. Governments are responding to genuine and widespread parental anxiety, not lobbying pressure.

Regulators are increasingly proposing device-level requirements to force manufacturers to deploy built-in explicit content blockers. Apple’s WWDC announcements preemptively address this. macOS 27 features automated content filtering that blocks gore and violence by default for under-18s, alongside clinical-expert-backed daily time allowance recommendations. No third-party app. No subscription.

Because the MacBook Neo processes everything on-device through the A18 Pro’s 16-core Neural Engine, personal data stays entirely local. That matters to privacy-conscious European buyers, particularly in Germany and France. Retailers can position these built-in safety features not as a bonus extra, but as the core value proposition for family purchasers navigating a genuinely anxious regulatory moment.

What Retailers Should Actually Do

The £599/€699 MacBook Neo is already selling. The software layer now gives retail staff concrete, demonstrable reasons for customers to buy now rather than wait.

Lean into interactive demonstrations of Liquid Glass and local Siri indexing. Skip the AI specification briefings and let the machine show its own speed. In a climate of parental concern over social media legislation, Apple’s out-of-the-box, on-device safety features are a consistent, credible story.

Subscription-free. Privacy-first. Compliant before the legislation has fully landed. Most of the work is already done.

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Por Dentro do Boom de TI no Brasil: O Que Está Impulsionando o Crescimento em 2026

2026-06-25T15:21:40Z

O setor de TI brasileiro está em expansão, impulsionado por forte investimento corporativo e modernização empresarial. A distribuição do país em 2026 vive uma expansão significativa, com as empresas fomentando um ambiente comercial próspero. Mesmo diante de instabilidades financeiras e mudanças políticas no horizonte, medidas estratégicas estão sendo adotadas para proteger esse ritmo de crescimento.

A receita do mercado atingiu seu pico em abril de 2026, chegando a R$ 1,1 bilhão — um crescimento de 8,1% em relação ao mesmo período do ano anterior, conforme aponta nosso mais recente Country Dashboard. O crescimento acumulado nos últimos três meses, de 23,1%, reforça a solidez comercial sustentada, respaldada por um aumento de 29,7% no valor de mercado das empresas.

Os fabricantes de hardware estão alinhando seus estoques à demanda corporativa: liderando o ranking, a LG conquistou 11% da receita total, com alta de 44,4% em relação ao ano anterior, impulsionada principalmente por monitores HD. A computação móvel é o segmento líder, com 19% de participação na receita, enquanto sistemas de rede respondem por 7%, completando o núcleo de maior valor.

O setor de infraestrutura, comunicação e back-end também recebe um forte aporte de capital. Os switches de rede praticamente dobraram sua receita, com crescimento de 95% em relação ao ano anterior, seguidos de perto pelos servidores corporativos, com alta de 77,2%, e pelos pontos de acesso sem fio, que dispararam impressionantes 189,9%.

Os resultados revelam um cenário otimista: a Asus registrou um crescimento excepcional de 189,4% na receita, enquanto a Dell anotou 132,4%, evidenciando um mercado em que os fornecedores estão fechando contratos corporativos de alto valor. Essa tendência aqueceu o mercado local, permitindo que ele superasse os patamares de 2025.

Em um mercado onde as inovações surgem a todo momento, o Brasil encontrou estabilidade por meio de acordos de alto valor que garantem atualizações para parceiros estratégicos — uma aposta que deve sustentar o bom desempenho mesmo diante dos desafios à frente.

O Country Dashboard apoia a tomada de decisões em nível macro, viabilizando uma análise de mercado precisa com base em informações atualizadas.

Para saber mais sobre essas e outras tendências do canal de TI, acompanhe os webinars semanais do IT Industry Forum da CONTEXT. Inscreva-se aqui.

Inside Brazil’s IT Surge: What’s Driving Growth in 2026

2026-06-23T16:22:05Z

Brazilian IT is expanding, driven by strong corporate investment and enterprise modernisation. The country's 2026 distribution is experiencing significant expansion, with businesses fostering a prosperous trading environment. Even as market players navigate financial downturns and upcoming political shifts, strategic measures are set to safeguard the upward momentum.

Market revenue peaked in April 2026 with R$1.1 billion, up 8.1% YoY, as shown by our most recent Country Dashboard. The rolling three-month growth of 23.1% further highlights sustained commercial strength, reinforced by a 29.7% YoY increase in enterprise value.

Hardware vendors are aligning their inventories with corporate demand: Leading the board, LG captured an 11% share of the total revenue, witnessing a 44.4% YoY increase, driven mostly by HD displays. Mobile computing is the leading segment, holding a revenue share of 19%, while networking systems account for 7%, completing the core of primary value.

For infrastructure, communication, and the backend, there is also a capital influx. Network switches nearly doubled their revenue with a 95% YoY growth, closely followed by enterprise server computing at 77.2%, and wireless access points, which skyrocketed at 189.9%.

The results reveal an optimistic outlook: Asus posted an exceptional 189.4% revenue peak, while Dell recorded 132.4%, highlighting a landscape where suppliers are securing high-value corporate deals. This trend has boosted the local market, enabling it to surpass 2025 levels.

In a market where innovations are routinely unveiled, Brazil has found stability through high-value agreements that ensure upgrades for strategic partners: a move expected to drive continued performance, even in the face of challenges.

The Country Dashboard supports macro-level decision-making, enabling precise market analysis based on up-to-date information.

For more on these and other IT channel trends, tune into CONTEXT’s weekly IT Industry Forum webinars. Register here.

May 2026 Highlights: CONTEXT’s Weekly IT Industry Forum

2026-06-23T07:35:29Z

May's sessions painted a consistent picture of the European IT distribution market: strong revenue momentum on the surface, with growing complexity beneath.

The full-year forecast was revised upward to 4.4% growth following a remarkable Q1, which came in at 7.8%, well above the 3-4% initially projected. This exceptional first quarter was largely driven by aggressive forward buying, with resellers stocking up on PC infrastructure and components in anticipation of further price hikes rather than an organic surge in end-user demand.

Growth is expected to decelerate to 3.6% in Q3 and 1.7% in Q4 as IT budgets come under increasing pressure. The component shortage story, with RAM prices up approximately 140% year-on-year and server configurations up nearly 50%, remains the dominant force shaping revenue figures across virtually every category.

Component Prices: First Signs of Stabilisation

Our PriceWatch Component Index analysis, using July-September 2025 as a pre-shortage baseline, offered a nuanced picture across the three main categories:

RAM, which had nearly quadrupled from the baseline, is now showing signs of stabilisation, flattening out in March and April.
SSD prices roughly doubled, with France and the UK still trending upward while other major markets appear to be levelling off.
HDD prices, which rose the least (peaking around 50% above baseline), are now in a downward trend in most countries, the clearest sign of market correction so far.

PCs: Revenue Up, Units Down

The latest personal computing data confirmed a notable early-Q2 shift. While Q1 saw strong growth in both units and revenues, early Q2 told a different story:

Notebook revenues still up 12% year-on-year, but units in decline.
Desktop revenues still positive at 2%, a sharp slowdown from Q1's 20%.
Average sale prices up approximately 11% for both categories.

The culprit is not supply but a demand pullback: elevated stock levels from Q1 forward buying, combined with sharper-than-expected price rises, are suppressing reseller orders. One standout development was the Apple MacBook Neo, launched in March at a more mainstream price point, which captured 33% of Apple's notebook sales in European distribution in March and April, pushing Apple's notebook market share from around 9-10% in 2025 to over 14% by April, primarily at Intel's expense.

Cybersecurity: Identity Remains the Priority

The cybersecurity market accelerated into Q2, with April ending approximately 10% up year-on-year. Sweden led at +61%, followed by Germany (+40%) and Italy (+32%).

Investment priorities are clear: identity and access management is up 18%, infrastructure protection up 9%, and data security bounced back strongly to +13%, driven partly by compliance requirements from the EU Data Act and EU AI Act. MSP growth continues to outpace the wider market at 17% year-on-year, with a notable Italy spike attributed to a major government IT breach, new NIS 2 compliance deadlines, and a resulting wave of outsourcing contracts.

Regional Spotlights

Poland was extensively covered this month, with government digitisation programmes including an AI labs initiative deploying 192,000 laptops and 12,000 PCs to schools, and record cybersecurity investment exceeding 5 billion Polish zloty, driving exceptional year-on-year growth in desktops, servers, and disk storage, in some cases exceeding 40%.

The Baltics recorded 19% overall revenue growth in Q1, with servers up 134% year-on-year and graphics cards up 95%, fuelled by major private-sector investment. Notably, 14% of Baltic server sales in Q1 were AI-capable (accelerated) servers.

The UK delivered April revenues up 22.6% year-on-year, driven by infrastructure spending through corporate resellers. Consumer channels remain under pressure, with e-tailer consumer sales down over 12% in Q1, reflecting persistently low consumer confidence.

Enterprise Networking and UPS: Demand Returning

Enterprise networking showed a welcome turning point in April, delivering 37% revenue growth in switching. Wi-Fi 7 grew nearly 200% in revenue year-on-year, despite early discussion about customers potentially skipping directly to Wi-Fi 8 (whose formal certification is not expected until 2028).

In the UPS market, Q2 is running at approximately 5% growth year-on-year, driven by higher-protection systems in SMB and infrastructure environments. Online UPS grew roughly 38% and Line Interactive around 20%, while offline entry-level products declined, consistent with a broad market shift toward more resilient solutions.

The recurring theme across May's sessions is a market navigating a delicate balance: near-term revenue strength sustained by price inflation and forward buying, set against the real risk of demand exhaustion in H2 as budgets feel the strain.

For more on these and other IT channel trends, tune into CONTEXT’s weekly IT Industry Forum webinars. Register here.

COMPUTEX 2026: What the Show Floor Actually Told Us About the European Retail Season Ahead

2026-06-17T12:05:36Z

COMPUTEX Taipei is the closest thing the PC industry has to a crystal ball. Whatever gets unveiled there tends to land on European shelves somewhere between six and eighteen months later, and it's also one of the first places where the people who actually make the components start talking openly about capacity and supply.

This year's keynotes told a familiar story: a smooth, fast-moving AI revolution, all upward trajectory and shiny new silicon. The show floor told a different one. What our team kept running into was a market moving at two distinct speeds. Manufacturers are pushing serious upgrades, yes, but their internal expectations for actual sales volume are a lot more grounded than the on-stage messaging suggests. Here's what stood out, and what it might mean for retailers on this side of the world.

AI PCs Are Here, But Don't Bank on a Volume Surge

The shift towards "AI PCs" that handle workloads locally, rather than shipping everything off to the cloud, was everywhere. For European shoppers, the pitch genuinely lands. Local processing fits neatly with data privacy concerns that are far more pronounced here than in some other markets, it works without an internet connection, and it removes the ongoing cost of cloud subscriptions.

And yet, in private conversations, top-tier laptop brands were noticeably less bullish about consumer demand for the second half of the year. Several premium launches are being treated less as sales drivers and more as branding exercises, a way of signalling where the technology is headed rather than expecting shoppers to queue up for it.

For retailers, that's a useful steer. Loading up on speculative premium stock based on the keynote narrative alone looks like a risky bet right now. The more interesting opportunity sits at the other end of the market: an aggressively priced €400 bracket that manufacturers are clearly building out to capture budget-conscious students ahead of the autumn term. That's where the volume conversation seems to be happening.

Components Are Tight, and That's Not Changing Soon

Wi-Fi 7 hardware was everywhere on the floor, with early glimpses of Wi-Fi 8 already doing the rounds. Gaming hardware is also drifting further into productivity territory, with high-refresh OLED displays aimed squarely at hybrid workers who want one machine for everything.

Behind the glossy demos, though, first-tier component manufacturers were candid that global production capacity isn't expected to fully recover for another year. Combine that with the cost-of-living pressures still weighing on European households, and the natural consumer response is to extend the life of the PC they already own rather than replace it.

This points to a straightforward opportunity for component aisles: keeping a steady, reliable stock of previous-generation memory and replacement parts. It's not glamorous, but it's likely to be a consistent driver of footfall and basket value through the rest of the year.

Handheld Gaming PCs: Brilliant Halo Products, Tricky Volume Plays

Handhelds were one of the genuine highlights of the show. Better graphics, bigger batteries, vibrant OLED screens, the category has clearly grown up. The problem, from a European retail perspective, is price. Many of the newly announced premium models are landing north of €1,000, which puts them well outside impulse-buy territory for most shoppers.

That doesn't mean they're not worth stocking. These devices work brilliantly as halo products, the kind of thing that draws people into the store even if they don't walk out with one. The trick is keeping inventory tight rather than betting heavily on volume.

For shoppers who want something they'll actually use every day, the better conversation might be around multi-purpose hardware, particularly creator-focused OLED laptops that can handle remote work during the day and entertainment in the evening. That's where mainstream spending is more likely to land.

The Hardware Is Only Half the Story

One thing the show made very clear: nobody buys a chip. They buy what the chip lets them do. The industry's enthusiasm for local AI computing only translates into sales if shoppers can see, immediately, what it's for.

That's why hardware manufacturers are increasingly teaming up directly with software vendors to bundle devices with what amount to "killer apps", local AI-powered photo and video editing tools, automated privacy features, and similar pre-installed extras. On the showroom floor, these are gold. Rather than getting into technical specifications that mean little to most customers, the more effective approach is a hands-on demonstration: show someone their photos being edited instantly, locally, with no subscription required, and the value becomes obvious in seconds.

Where Does This Leave Retailers?

Based on what we saw and heard, late 2026 doesn't look like a year for chasing big numbers on premium devices. The smarter play seems to be a balancing act across three fronts: supporting budget-conscious upgraders with legacy repair parts and components, meeting cost-conscious students with €400 entry-level notebooks ahead of the new term, and using interactive software demonstrations to let the newest hardware sell itself.

None of this is flashy. But it's grounded in what manufacturers themselves are quietly planning for, rather than what they're saying on stage. For retailers planning stock and floor strategy over the coming months, that distinction matters.

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UK IT Distribution: Top Categories & Sellers

2026-06-16T09:55:04Z

The UK IT distribution market held steady in the first quarter of 2026, as evidenced by our latest TopSellers report, with buyers prioritising high-end technology. Robust investments in next-gen computing and enterprise infrastructure kept the overall market healthy despite a drop in unit volume.

Widespread infrastructure modernisation and a growing preference for premium devices drove the market's high-value growth. Server Computing surged by 157.6%, followed by a 44.8% expansion in unit shipments. The components sector mirrored this optimism; processor revenues climbed 70.8%, while critical storage infrastructure, including disk arrays, posted a 119.9% increase.

Consumer-level devices continue to lead the market. HP secured the majority of corporate fleet rollouts, while Apple maintained its position in the high-end tier. Notebooks generated the largest individual revenue share, amounting to £168.9 million, despite a 7.9% drop in unit sales.

The widespread adoption of premium business devices is evident in the performance of the newest HP EliteBook, which sold 3,350 units and generated over £4.29 million in revenue. Similarly, the Apple MacBook Air sold 2,323 units, generating over £1.85 million. However, stationary computing faced contractions, with standard desktop unit sales declining by 12.8% and tablet PC shipments by 17.4%.

Enterprise software applications complete the core trio of regional market value, as a steady and recurring priority in corporate budgets. Virtualisation software remains substantial, following a 15.3% financial increase, whereas office application software grew by 5.7%. Businesses are deliberately moving away from low-cost hardware toward durable systems, creating an advanced infrastructure that gives retailers and distributors a reliable foundation.

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The SME Tech Premium: Why Small Businesses Are Trading Up

2026-06-08T08:24:09Z

Small businesses, freelancers, and small office/home office (SOHO) buyers are skipping entry-level consumer models in favour of high-specification hardware that meets their operational needs.

Our latest channel data shows two very different spending trends within the UK and European technology markets. While consumer tech sales in traditional retail remain flat or unpredictable, Average Selling Prices (ASPs) are rising sharply in the Small and Medium Reseller (SMR) channel, which primarily serves businesses with 1 to 50 employees.

The Growing Gap Between B2B and Retail

According to our long-term market tracking, a major turning point happened halfway through 2025. Everyday consumers became highly price-sensitive and reliant on discounts, while small business buyers went the other direction.

The trend has only strengthened in the first half of 2026:

The 2025 Turning Point: In the second half of 2025, retail chain ASP growth shrank by 0.51% year-on-year. At the exact same time, SMR channel prices jumped by 7.98%.
The Q3 2025 Gap: Retail ASPs dipped by 0.94% year-on-year, while SMR channel ASPs surged by 9.04%.
Continued Growth in 2026: In the first half of this year, SMR prices maintained a strong growth rate of 7.56% year-on-year - more than double the retail baseline of 3.15%.
Peak Monthly Spikes: SMR price growth hit nearly 11% in September 2025 (compared to just 0.57% in retail) and 10% in March 2026 (compared to 5.48% in retail).

A £9 Billion Missed Opportunity for Retailers

Large electronics retailers are starting to recognise the enormous value of this segment. Industry leaders like Currys PLC are explicitly targeting the 1–50 seat SME space, noting that business accounts spend more and buy more often than everyday consumers.

However, the wider market data shows that specialised tech resellers are still winning the vast majority of these high-margin sales. Traditional stores often fail to showcase the specific features that small businesses are willing to pay for, such as enterprise operating systems, advanced security chips, and commercial-grade networking equipment.

"Small businesses view technology as a revenue generator. When an independent consultant or a 20-person agency buys a laptop or a routing system, they prioritise long-term utility over low upfront cost.

Our data shows that SMR channels are capturing unprecedented premium sales because they understand this structural requirement. Retailers who treat the micro-business buyer like an average consumer are leaving immense margins on the table," says James Bates, Senior Retail Analyst at CONTEXT.

Access the Full Dataset

Capitalise on changes in B2B spending with a detailed look at category-level performance. The complete CONTEXT TotalMarket dataset provides a breakdown by product category and SKU across 12 countries, available now to CONTEXT enterprise clients and channel partners.

For weekly market updates and analysis, join our Retail Pulse Newsletter.

Poland Performs Above Average: Prospects for Q2

2026-06-02T12:56:41Z

Central Europe is on the rise, as Poland's early 2026 economy showcases resilience despite near-term challenges. While the seasonal industry slowdown in January and February dropped GDP growth to 3.4%, robust public investments and strong market demand played a significant role in establishing a secure environment that nurtures growth.

Inflationary pressures rose in April, reaching 3.2%, the highest level since June 2025. This is primarily caused by fuel and energy costs amidst ongoing geopolitical instability both within and outside of Europe. Despite this, monetary policy continues to support the economy, as evidenced by the reduction of interest rates, which dropped from 5.75 percent to 3.75 percent by April 2026.

Poland's Ministry of Digitisation and the Ministry of Education have also collaborated to introduce educational programs worth 5 billion PLN. As part of this initiative, the government is deploying 256,000 high-performance laptops along with specialised hardware through the "AI and STEM LABS" project. Additionally, the multi-year "Cyfrowy Uczeń" scheme allocates over 311 million PLN through 2029 to support teacher training and educational infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing the country's commitment to digitalisation.

All of these factors have driven remarkable momentum within Poland's domestic IT distribution, enabling it to surpass broader European benchmarks.

While many areas of the continent wrestled with stagnation, Polish distribution revenues surged by an impressive 19.7% in April 2026. The hardware market is witnessing high demand, showcasing growth with desktop computing rising by 72.6%, followed by server computing at 40.9% and disk storage systems at 40.3%.

Mobile computing continues to lead the market, accounting for the largest revenue share at 23% followed by Telecommunications at 15%. Software licensing makes up 9%, completing the core trio of market value. The strong performance of Poland's business and consumer channels, compared to the CONTEXT European panel index, highlights a maturing structural demand that remains resilient despite a general economic slowdown, opening up new market opportunities for retailers and distributors.

For more on these and other IT channel trends, tune into CONTEXT’s weekly IT Industry Forum webinars. Register here.

Pre-Owned to Premium: How High-Spec Refurbished PCs Changed Tech Retail in Q1 2026

2026-06-01T06:55:15Z

Refurbished products are now becoming long-term primary devices for consumers, according to our latest market intelligence data. Across top European markets, especially the UK and France, pricing and product mixes are changing. The new rules under the 2026 Right to Repair legislation bring profitable opportunities for the European retailers, alongside urgent supply chain warnings.

"The refurbished market is steadily moving upmarket," noted Jacky Chan, CONTEXT ESG Global Research Lead. "Demand is no longer being driven purely by affordability. Customers are prioritising performance, longevity, and quality, and that is reshaping both pricing and product mix across Europe."

Our key market highlights reveal exactly how these changes affect the retail sector.

Revenue is Outpacing Volume

Interestingly, while overall unit sales remained flat in Q1 2026, market revenue grew by 10% compared to last year. Refurbished notebooks led this upward trend with a 12% increase. Customers are spending more per purchase, driving higher profit margins for retailers even without a corresponding bump in total sales volume.

The UK Leads European Adoption

Regionally, the UK market is outperforming the rest of Europe and anchoring the wider growth. Sales volumes doubled between Q4 2024 and Q4 2025, allowing the UK to officially overtake Germany in total market share. British shoppers are highly receptive to refurbished technology right now, proving that the old stigma of buying used electronics has faded, replaced by a modern focus on smart spending and sustainability.

Premium Specs are Taking Over

On the other side of the growing acceptance for refurbished devices is a clear desire for power. Buyers are actively choosing better, faster devices rather than settling for outdated tech. Consequently, the premium €500–€600 price bracket jumped from a mere 5% to a 19% market share in Q1 2026. High specs are the new standard: laptops with 16GB of RAM now make up nearly 70% of sales, signalling that retailers need to adjust their inventory towards these high-performance machines.

Additional Key Market Highlights

This push towards premium devices has created several ripple effects across the broader market:

Lower-spec demand is shrinking: Sales of lower-priced refurbished systems (€200–€300) declined by 6% year-on-year in Q1. Basic 8GB systems are experiencing a sharp drop in market share, becoming notably less attractive to buyers even when heavily discounted.
Growing demand for complete solutions: Rather than buying standalone hardware, shoppers are increasingly looking for complete setups to help them get the most out of their premium technology. This opens a major opportunity for retailers to build basket sizes with set-up services, ongoing care plans, and relevant accessories.
B2B expansion: Beyond individual consumers, the B2B sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is driving significant demand as businesses seek out high-spec refurbished devices to cost-effectively upgrade their professional fleets.

Preparing for the Future

To capitalise on these trends, retailers must implement strict stock quality controls in early 2026 to prevent customer dissatisfaction and prepare for the Right to Repair directive. By mandating greater availability of spare parts and improving repairability, this legislation will further legitimise the sector. Ultimately, this new landscape will reward retailers who proactively embrace this growing circular economy.

Stay informed: For more data-led insights into the European retail market, join the Retail Pulse Newsletter.

Destaques de Abril 2026: Fórum Semanal de TI da CONTEXT

2026-05-24T15:12:30Z

O setor de TI em abril de 2026 está sendo moldado por uma convergência de forças que raramente se alinham de forma tão dramática: investimentos em infraestrutura de IA em escala histórica, escassez de componentes sem solução rápida à vista e um setor de semicondutores quebrando seus próprios recordes de lucro. Em meio à incerteza macroeconômica e atritos geopolíticos em diversas regiões, o mercado de distribuição de TI se manteve surpreendentemente bem. Em alguns casos, foi além de apenas se manter.

A corrida do ouro da infraestrutura de IA

Se há uma história dominando abril, é a demanda. O apetite por hardware com capacidade para IA cresceu tão rapidamente que as cadeias de suprimento simplesmente não conseguiram acompanhar. Os resultados do T1 da Samsung ilustraram o quanto o mercado mudou, com lucros operacionais saltando 755% em relação ao ano anterior, impulsionados quase inteiramente pela divisão de semicondutores. A TSMC reportou receitas no T1 se aproximando de US$ 36 bilhões, um aumento de 40% em relação ao ano anterior, à medida que a empresa conclui sua transição de fornecedora de chips para smartphones para se tornar a espinha dorsal de facto da infraestrutura global de IA.

O retorno às condições normais de oferta deve levar de 18 a 24 meses. Até lá, os compradores estão se adaptando da melhor forma possível.

Essa demanda tem um custo. Os componentes de memória e armazenamento estão em grave escassez, e os especialistas do setor não estão otimistas quanto a uma solução rápida. Enquanto a oferta não alcança a demanda, o canal está contornando as limitações por meio de configurações alternativas e contratos de leasing que impedem os projetos de travar por completo.

Destaques regionais

O cenário varia bastante dependendo da região. Alguns mercados prosperam com o impulso crescente; outros navegam em ventos contrários reais. O que eles têm em comum é um canal de TI que encontra formas de avançar independentemente.

Mercados emergentes

A Índia está pensando em grande no que diz respeito a data centers. A região está priorizando a segurança energética e a redução da dependência de componentes críticos importados, e o investimento em data centers é central para esse plano. Espera-se que o mercado cresça 3,5 vezes nos próximos cinco anos, tornando-o uma das oportunidades de infraestrutura mais significativas do mundo atualmente.

A África do Sul conta uma história diferente. Os gastos governamentais em infraestrutura têm sido fracos, e a má gestão de projetos de TI estatais continua a frear a demanda no setor público. O setor privado está compensando parte disso — grandes players como Equinix, Microsoft e Amazon estão investindo em capacidade local de data centers, o que impede o mercado de recuar ainda mais.

Análise por categoria

PERSPECTIVAS · T2 2026

O setor entra no T2 a partir de uma base maior do que há um ano. A volatilidade de preços continua sendo um desafio real, mas o canal respondeu com flexibilidade — configurações alternativas de produtos, soluções de leasing e sourcing criativo para manter os projetos nos trilhos. As restrições de oferta não desaparecerão rapidamente. O foco nos próximos meses será gerenciar essa realidade enquanto se aproveita o avanço implacável em direção à execução de IA em todos os segmentos do mercado.

Para saber mais sobre estas e outras tendências do canal de TI, acompanhe os webinars semanais do IT Industry Forum da CONTEXT. Registre-se aqui.

Nisan 2026’da öne çıkanlar: CONTEXT'in Haftalık BT Endüstrisi Forumu

2026-05-24T14:31:41Z

Nisan 2026'da BT sektörü, nadiren bu kadar çarpıcı bir şekilde bir araya gelen güçlerin birleşimiyle şekilleniyor: Tarihi ölçekte yapay zeka altyapı harcamaları, yakın zamanda çözümü görünmeyen bileşen kıtlığı ve kendi kar rekorlarını yeniden yazan bir yarı iletken sektörü. Makroekonomik belirsizlik ve çeşitli bölgelerdeki jeopolitik sürtüşmelere rağmen, BT dağıtım pazarı şaşırtıcı derecede iyi bir performans sergiledi. Bazı durumlarda, sadece dayanmakla kalmadı, daha da fazlasını başardı.

Yapay Zeka altyapısı altına madeni

Nisan ayına damgasını vuran tek bir konu varsa, o da taleptir. Yapay zekâ özellikli donanıma olan talep o kadar hızlı arttı ki, tedarik zincirleri bu talebe ayak uyduramadı. Samsung'un 1. çeyrek sonuçları, piyasanın ne kadar dramatik bir şekilde değiştiğini gösterdi; faaliyet kârları, neredeyse tamamen yarı iletken bölümü sayesinde, bir önceki yıla göre %755 arttı. TSMC, akıllı telefon çip tedarikçiliğinden küresel yapay zekâ altyapısının fiili omurgasına geçişini tamamlarken, 1. çeyrek gelirlerinin 36 milyar dolara yaklaştığını ve bir önceki yıla göre %40 artış gösterdiğini bildirdi.

Bu talebin bir bedeli oldu. Bellek ve depolama bileşenlerinde ciddi bir kıtlık yaşanıyor ve sektör uzmanları sorunun hızlı bir şekilde çözüleceği konusunda iyimser değil. Arz talebi karşılayana kadar, kanal alternatif konfigürasyonlar ve kiralama düzenlemeleri yoluyla kısıtlamaların üstesinden gelerek projelerin tamamen durmasını engelliyor.

Bölgesel öne çıkanlar

Bulunduğunuz yere bağlı olarak tablo farklılık gösteriyor. Bazı piyasalar ileriye dönük ivmeyle gelişirken, diğerleri gerçek zorluklarla karşı karşıya. Ortak noktaları ise, ne olursa olsun ilerlemenin yollarını bulan bir BT kanalına sahip olmaları.

GELİŞMEKTE OLAN PİYASALAR

Hindistan veri merkezleri konusunda büyük düşünüyor. Bölge, enerji güvenliğine öncelik veriyor ve ithal kritik bileşenlere olan bağımlılığı azaltıyor; veri merkezi yatırımları da bu planın merkezinde yer alıyor. Pazarın önümüzdeki beş yıl içinde 3,5 kat büyümesi bekleniyor ve bu da onu şu anda dünyanın en önemli altyapı fırsatlarından biri haline getiriyor.

Güney Afrika ise farklı bir hikaye anlatıyor. Hükümetin altyapı harcamaları zayıf kaldı ve devletin BT projelerinin kötü yönetimi, kamu sektörü talebini olumsuz etkilemeye devam ediyor. Özel sektör bu açığı bir nebze olsun kapatıyor; Equinix, Microsoft ve Amazon gibi büyük oyuncular yerel veri merkezi kapasitesine yatırım yaparak pazarın daha fazla gerilemesini engelliyor.

Kategoriye derinlemesine bakışlar

DEPOLAMA & BELLEK - Fiyat fenomeni:

Tüketici SSD satışları %42'den fazla düşüş gösterdi, ancak fiyatların artması nedeniyle gelirler olumlu görünüyor. Dahili HDD gelirleri ise, büyük ölçekli veri merkezlerini ve yerelleştirilmiş yapay zeka uygulamalarını besleyen yüksek yoğunluklu sürücülere olan talep sayesinde yıllık bazda %43 arttı. Hacim azalıyor; gelir artıyor. Bu gerilim yakın zamanda ortadan kalkmayacak.

BİLişim - MacBook Neo sert bir iniş yaptı

Apple'ın uygun fiyatlı dizüstü bilgisayar segmentine girişi gerçek bir ivmeyle gerçekleşti. Piyasaya sürülmesinin üçüncü haftasında MacBook Neo, Apple'ın dizüstü bilgisayar satış hacminin %23'ünü oluşturdu. Oyun sektöründe ise 2025 yenileme döngüsünden sonra pazar normale dönüyor. Ekran kartı talebi düşük olsa da, oyun monitörleri yüksek kar marjıyla parlak bir pazar olmaya devam ediyor.

YAZILIM & BULUT - Yönetime geçiş

Ticari yazılım gelirleri, altyapı yönetim araçları ve Microsoft 365 gibi temel yazılımların öncülüğünde, ilk çeyrekte bir önceki yıla göre %11 arttı. Bulut bilişimde ise sektörün odağı geçişten yönetişime kaydı: veri egemenliği, Sıfır Güven güvenliği ve GPU-hizmet olarak modellerinin yükselişi.

UC&C - Bir kategori içindeki zıtlıklar

Alıcıların bütçelerini yeniden önceliklendirmesi nedeniyle kulaklık satışları düşüş gösterdi. Ancak işletmelerin orta ölçekli toplantı odalarını standartlaştırmasıyla birlikte, iş birliğine yönelik video çözümleri ve bağımsız kameralar olağanüstü bir büyüme gösteriyor. Bir segment zorlanırken, diğeri gelişiyor.

GELECEĞE BAKIŞ · 2026 2. Çeyrek

Sektör, geçen yıla göre daha yüksek bir baz seviyesinden ikinci çeyreğe giriyor. Fiyat dalgalanmaları gerçek bir zorluk olmaya devam ediyor, ancak kanal esneklik göstererek - alternatif ürün konfigürasyonları, kiralama çözümleri ve projelerin yolunda ilerlemesini sağlamak için yaratıcı tedarik yöntemleriyle - karşılık verdi. Tedarik kısıtlamaları kısa sürede ortadan kalkmayacak. Önümüzdeki aylardaki odak noktası, bu gerçeği yönetirken, pazarın her segmentinde yapay zeka uygulamasına yönelik amansız baskıyı yakalamak olacak..

European IT Distribution Market: France Defies the Slowdown as the Clouds Gather

2026-05-22T06:13:24Z

A strong Q1 powered by forward-buying and premium demand masks broader economic pressures. The latest distribution data reveals what lies ahead.

The French IT distribution market observed robust revenue growth of 12.6% YoY in the first quarter of 2026, an achievement that stands out against the backdrop of a slow national economy that registered a mere 0.3% increase during the same period.

As highlighted in our latest IT Industry Webinar, France has now positioned itself ahead of its Western European counterparts, including Germany and the UK. Much of the momentum stems from a strategic forward-buying movement in March, where growth rose to 16.5% as the channel stocked up to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.

Q2 2026: Fewer devices, higher stakes

Moving into the second quarter, April saw a notable 12% decline in unit sales, coinciding with a significant 26% increase in market value. The data shows that, while fewer devices are being sold, those that are on the market are high-end models. Businesses are prioritising premium over basic hardware, despite ongoing concerns about decreasing purchasing power among the French.

While the French IT distribution channel has proven resilient, it must now brace for a tougher environment as the broader economic climate faces increasing uncertainty. With inflation trending upward and unemployment approaching 8%, the threat of stagnation is set to cast a shadow over business sentiment.

The challenges ahead

A marked decline in expected growth and business confidence in April signalled a more cautious approach in the coming months. While the industry thrived at the start of the year, the combination of political instability and a cooling recruitment landscape indicates that navigating the complexities ahead will require sharp strategy and guidance as we progress into the second half of 2026.

For more on these and other IT channel trends, tune into CONTEXT’s weekly IT Industry Forum webinars. Register here.

The ASP Paradox: Rising Tech Costs in a Cooling Market

2026-05-21T13:09:02Z

Our European tech retail data highlighted a divided market in March 2026. Consumer demand is dropping despite the 8.5% YoY increase in the Average Selling Prices (ASPs). The driver behind this spike in ASPs is twofold –the finished products like tablets and smartphones are stagnating in price, while the cost of SSDs, memory and GPU is soaring.

The Component Crisis

It is the supply-side pressure on components, and not premium consumer upgrades, that caused the ASP growth. Hardware costs are rising, putting serious pressure on retail margins:

SSDs: +41.6% (climbing as high as +68% in Poland)
Memory: +33%
GPUs: +16.4%

For retailers, the immediate challenge is securing inventory without crushing the bottom line.

Sinking Consumer Demand

This price hike arrives at the worst possible moment for consumer engagement. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) recently reported a 10.7% drop in UK footfall for April. When people do go out, they are spending on essentials; tech spending intention has plummeted to -22%.

Between a -13 sentiment score in the UK and a three-year low in German consumer confidence, the era of big-ticket tech purchases has clearly hit a pause. When consumers do spend, they are prioritising essentials over hardware refreshes.

Strategies for Q3

To navigate rising component costs and cautious shoppers, your tech retail strategy needs three practical adjustments:

Localise Your Pricing: Tailor inventory to regional trends. For example, smartphone prices are down 12% in France but up 15% in Spain.
Sell Upgrades, Not Replacements: Buyers are skipping €1,500 new laptops. Instead, pitch SSD or memory upgrades as a cost-effective way to extend the life of their current hardware.
Maximise Every Visit: With traffic down, focus on Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) and Average Basket Value (ABV). Capture the highest possible value from the customers who are ready to buy.

The remainder of 2026 will favour retailers who can successfully protect their margins while adapting to a highly price-sensitive market.

For more data-led insights into the European retail market, join the Retail Pulse Newsletter .

The 2026 Computing Comeback: Two Sides of the European Retail Market

2026-05-14T09:24:31Z

Computing is making a comeback in the first quarter of 2026, with consumers focusing heavily on buying high-performance hardware.

A Market Polarised by Power

James Bates, Senior Retail Analyst at CONTEXT, points out that the market is currently splitting based on computing power. Smartphones and tablets of the past ten years are now giving way to major computing setups. In Germany and Spain, the sales of high-end desktops and laptops are skyrocketing, particularly those built to handle heavy AI tasks.

The Revenue Rebound

One of the biggest surprises of Q1 is that market struggles are translating into higher revenues. Shortages in parts and rising memory costs have made retail prices jump. For stores, this means a highly profitable quarter for storage and memory. Even though there are fewer items to sell, the higher price per gigabyte is boosting total earnings.

A Regional Comparison: The UK Outlier

There are notable differences amongst Europe’s top six economies. Poland and Spain have emerged as primary growth engines, with Poland seeing a staggering +68% gain in desktop revenues, while the UK remains an exception. Facing a contraction in both notebooks (-17.2%) and desktops (-10.9%), British shoppers seem to be waiting for prices to settle down before buying new hardware.

Rethinking the Tech Budget

People are changing how they spend their money. Upgrading to the newest smartphone is no longer an automatic choice. Mobile device sales are dropping as computer sales rise, due to consumers redirecting their money to upgrade their home and office setups.

This leaves retailers with one clear takeaway for mid-2026: The PC is back at the centre of the tech budget.

For more data-led insights into the European retail market, join the Retail Pulse Newsletter .

Los envíos trimestrales de impresoras 3D industriales repuntan en medio de un continuo crecimiento récord en el segmento de entrada

2026-05-12T06:39:13Z

Londres, 15 de abril de 2026 – El mercado global de impresoras 3D alcanzó un punto de inflexión significativo en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, ya que el segmento de entrada, que experimentó un auge vertiginoso, continuó creciendo como motor financiero principal, registrando no solo un aumento acelerado en las ventas, sino también atrayendo un capital estratégico masivo de gigantes tecnológicos. Según el último análisis de la firma global de inteligencia de mercado CONTEXT, los ingresos agregados por sistemas de hardware aumentaron un 25 % interanual en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, impulsados por el aumento acelerado de los envíos de impresoras de entrada (un 47 %, lo que resultó en un aumento de los ingresos del 53 % interanual) y la recuperación de los envíos de sistemas industriales (un 12 %, lo que generó un aumento de los ingresos del 16 % interanual). Este repunte colectivo sugiere que la industria finalmente podría haber superado el "punto más bajo de la demanda" que caracterizó al segmento de gama alta del mercado durante gran parte de los dos años anteriores.

La impresión 3D de nivel básico está en su mejor momento. Esto quedó patente en la reciente feria TCT Asia de Shanghái, que volvió a mostrar la constante innovación tecnológica y el entusiasmo desbordante de los consumidores. Si bien la impresión 3D industrial cobró impulso en la segunda mitad de 2025, el revuelo de años anteriores ha dado paso a un enfoque riguroso en sectores clave y áreas estratégicas de crecimiento. Aunque persisten los desafíos en los segmentos de gama media y profesional debido a la continua migración de la demanda hacia precios más bajos, la recuperación de los envíos industriales a nivel mundial infunde esperanza de que el segmento de gama alta, tan importante, esté recuperando terreno.

Sistemas industriales: Resurgimiento de polímeros y metales

Los envíos globales de sistemas industriales de gama alta (más de 100 000 dólares) experimentaron un notable aumento en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, continuando la recuperación iniciada en la segunda mitad del año. Este dinamismo no se limitó al sector metalúrgico ni a China, sino que también incluyó un repunte en los envíos de polímeros a nivel mundial. Si bien el volumen de unidades para todo el año 2025 disminuyó un 3 % —el cuarto año consecutivo de descensos—, la recuperación del cuarto trimestre registró un aumento interanual del 12 % en las unidades vendidas.

Polímeros: Los envíos globales de impresoras 3D de polímeros industriales aumentaron un 23 % en el trimestre. Este incremento se debió a un aumento interanual del 39 % en los envíos de impresoras de fotopolimerización en cuba, impulsado principalmente por el resurgimiento de Carbon y el líder del mercado, UnionTech. Para el año completo 2025, los envíos de polímeros se mantuvieron prácticamente estables en un 1 %.
Metales: Los envíos de sistemas de metal industrial aumentaron un 5 % en el cuarto trimestre de 2025, impulsados exclusivamente por el incremento de los envíos de fusión selectiva por lecho de polvo metálico (PBF). Los envíos mundiales de metal para todo el año (de todas las tecnologías) cayeron un 4 %, afectados significativamente por el caos de fusiones y adquisiciones observado en Occidente en 2025, que impactó en la inyección de aglutinante metálico y la extrusión de materiales metálicos.
Fusión de lecho de polvo metálico: Este subsegmento creció un 24 % interanual en unidades durante el cuarto trimestre. Entre los líderes en cuota de mercado se encontraban los proveedores chinos BLT, Eplus3D, ZRapid Tech y Farsoon, mientras que los proveedores occidentales EOS y Nikon SLM Solutions mantuvieron su liderazgo en la cuota de ingresos por sistemas. UnionTech, líder de mercado de larga trayectoria en polímeros, también se consolidó como un importante motor de crecimiento en metales, gracias a la fuerte demanda en el mercado de moldes para calzado.

Sistemas profesionales y de gama media: Cómo afrontar la presión descendente

Ambas categorías continuaron sintiendo el "efecto Bambú", ya que la demanda de extrusión de materiales se desplazó hacia precios más bajos.

Gama media ($20.000–$100.000): Los envíos globales disminuyeron un 6% interanual en el cuarto trimestre de 2025 y un 12% en el año completo. Entre los líderes en unidades durante todo el año en este segmento técnicamente diverso se encontraban UnionTech, Stratasys, Formlabs y ZRapid Tech. Si bien el subsegmento de extrusión de materiales se vio afectado, los envíos de fusión de lecho de polvo de gama media crecieron, particularmente gracias a la estrategia de actualización única de HP. Este rango de precios también sufrió más que otros debido a la consolidación del mercado, lo que impactó significativamente las comparaciones interanuales, ya que las empresas se fusionaron, fueron adquiridas o abandonaron la categoría en 2025.
Profesional ($2.5K–$20K): Los envíos se contrajeron un -12% en el trimestre y un -15% en el año completo, principalmente debido al desplome de los envíos de extrusión de material. Los productos que utilizan fotopolimerización en cuba ahora disfrutan de la cuota dominante en esta clase de precios, representando el 71% de los productos profesionales enviados globalmente en el trimestre. El líder de la categoría Formlabs disfrutó de la mayor cuota de mercado durante todo el año (38%), con envíos globales que aumentan notablemente a partir de 2024. También está creciendo el interés en torno a productos de menor precio que utilizan otras modalidades, como sistemas de fibra compuesta continua, como FibreSeek (anteriormente Anisoprint), y las próximas impresoras de extrusión de material a todo color, como las de Flashforge.

Sistemas de nivel básico: La nueva potencia mundial

Los envíos globales de impresoras 3D de gama básica a clientes finales (no solo consumidores, sino también prosumidores, profesionales y granjas de impresión de fabricación en todo el mundo) aumentaron un 47 % en el cuarto trimestre de 2025 y un 26 % en el conjunto del año. China se ha convertido en la impresión 3D de consumo en lo que Japón fue para la electrónica de consumo en la década de 1980; casi toda la innovación técnica y de precios proviene actualmente de proveedores chinos, que representaron más del 90 % de los envíos globales en 2025. Bambu Lab disfrutó de una cuota de mercado del 37 % en ese período, mientras que Creality, Elegoo y Anycubic también ocuparon posiciones destacadas. El segmento está madurando financieramente, con Creality a punto de salir a bolsa y rumores de inversiones multimillonarias en otros líderes por parte de importantes inversores financieros chinos. Las innovaciones en soluciones avanzadas multicolor siguen siendo un fuerte catalizador, como lo demuestra la campaña de financiación colectiva sin precedentes de Snapmaker. Las próximas innovaciones en inteligencia artificial, que prometen facilitar aún más la impresión 3D doméstica, también buscan impulsar el crecimiento futuro del mercado.

Perspectiva

Las perspectivas a largo plazo para la impresión 3D siguen siendo sólidas a nivel mundial, especialmente a medida que la tecnología avanza más allá del prototipado hacia la fabricación en volumen. A corto plazo, todos los segmentos de precios clave están preparados para crecer en 2026, impulsados por la relajación de las tasas de interés en EE. UU., la continua fortaleza del mercado interno chino y el dinamismo de los sectores aeroespacial y de defensa a nivel mundial. Se espera que el mercado incorpore nuevas tecnologías y soluciones con diferentes precios en 2026, incluyendo materiales compuestos y la inyección de material a todo color, lo que contribuirá a que incluso la categoría de precios Profesional experimente un crecimiento en los envíos el próximo año.

Se prevé que el segmento de gama básica registre la mayor tasa de crecimiento en 2026, mientras que los envíos industriales alcanzarán tasas de crecimiento interanual cercanas a los dos dígitos. Si bien las perspectivas de crecimiento de los envíos en los segmentos profesional y de gama media son más moderadas para el próximo año, se espera que ambos recuperen sus niveles máximos anteriores en los próximos años.

Categorías de precios: Nivel básico: menos de 2500 $; Profesional: entre 2500 $ y 20 000 $; Gama media: entre 20 000 $ y 100 000 $; Industrial: más de 100 000 $

Inside Our Award-Winning IT Retail Data: The “How” Behind the “What”

2026-05-08T07:47:50Z

Here at CONTEXT, our regular updates usually focus on what is new in the IT retail market. What we do best is actionable, reliable data, so it is easy to focus on the what – what is moving or changing, or what will the market do next. This week, things are slightly different. We are focusing on how we do what we do each week. Let us introduce the infrastructure and processes that make our market intelligence trustworthy.

We are incredibly proud that CONTEXT has been named Data Management Company of the Year at the 2026 Data Breakthrough Awards!

For us, this recognition goes hand-in-hand with our existing ISO 27001 certification which is the undisputed global gold standard for information security and risk management.The certification proves that our data environment is safe. This new award validates our ability to provide the most reliable market intelligence data available.

Making Sense of Complex Data

Most mainstream IT retailers and vendors are dealing with unprecedented data complexity. Managing thousands of products across multiple countries, reconciling mismatched reporting formats, and navigating volatile supply chains all demand a level of data oversight that few retailers can maintain alone.

This is where our Channel Data Management (CDM) service steps in, taking the streams of raw, fragmented data and cleaning, standardising, and synthesising them into a single and reliable truth.

How We Benefit Our Partners

Our ISO 27001 certification combined with our new title as Data Management Company of the Year equips our partners with a level of certainty and operational standards that are unique in the industry.

This is how our award-winning approach to data management benefits our partners:

Solid Security: Protection comes first. We guard your sales and inventory data with the strictest global standards, keeping it completely private and safe.
Effortless Management: Our award-winning system cleans and organises the complex numbers, allowing you to focus on strategy instead of unstructured reports.
Sharp Competitiveness: Clean data leads to clear insights. Our partners gain a full, accurate perspective of the market from a source verified for both uncompromising technical integrity and top-tier intelligence.
Looking Ahead

In everything we do, we remain deeply committed to maintaining the most secure and sophisticated data-sharing ecosystem in the IT industry. Bringing clarity to complex information is what drives us, and it is a great honour to have our mission recognised on a global stage.

We look forward to bringing you more of the market insights you rely on next week!

For more data-led insights join our Retail Pulse Newsletter.

April 2026 Highlights: CONTEXT’s Weekly IT Industry Forum

2026-05-06T11:06:32Z

The IT industry in April 2026 is being shaped by a confluence of forces that rarely align so dramatically: AI infrastructure spending at historic scale, component shortages with no quick resolution in sight, and a semiconductor sector rewriting its own profit records. Against a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical friction in several regions, the IT distribution market has held up surprisingly well. In some cases, it's done more than hold up.

The AI infrastructure gold rush

If there's one story dominating April, it's demand. The appetite for AI-capable hardware has grown so fast that supply chains simply haven't kept up. Samsung's Q1 results illustrated just how dramatically the market has shifted, with operating profits jumping 755% year-over-year, fuelled almost entirely by its semiconductor division. TSMC reported Q1 revenues approaching $36 billion, a 40% increase from the prior year, as the company completes its transition from smartphone chip supplier to the de facto backbone of global AI infrastructure.

That demand has come at a cost. Memory and storage components are in severe shortage, and industry experts aren't optimistic about a swift fix. Until supply catches up, the channel is working around constraints through alternative configurations and leasing arrangements that keep projects from stalling entirely.

Regional spotlights

The picture looks different depending on where you are. Some markets are thriving on forward momentum; others are navigating genuine headwinds. What they share is an IT channel that's finding ways to move forward regardless.

Emerging Markets

India is thinking big about data centres. The region is prioritising energy security and reducing dependency on imported critical components, and data centre investment is central to that plan. The market is expected to grow 3.5 times over the next five years, making it one of the most significant infrastructure opportunities in the world right now.

South Africa tells a different story. Government infrastructure spending has been weak, and mismanagement of state IT projects continues to drag on public-sector demand. The private sector is picking up some of the slack — major players including Equinix, Microsoft, and Amazon are investing in local data centre capacity, which keeps the market from slipping further.

Category deep dives

Storage & Memory - The price phenomenon

Consumer SSD unit sales have fallen over 42%, yet revenue looks positive because prices have surged. Internal HDD revenues are up 43% year-over-year, driven by demand for high-density drives feeding hyperscale data centres and localised AI deployments. Volume is declining; revenue is rising. That tension isn't going away soon.

Computing - MacBook Neo lands hard

Apple's push into the budget notebook tier has arrived with real force. By its third week in distribution, the MacBook Neo accounted for 23% of Apple's notebook sales volume. In gaming, the market is normalising after the 2025 refresh cycle. Graphics card demand is soft, but gaming monitors remain a high-margin bright spot.

Software & Cloud - The shift to governance

Commercial software revenues grew 11% year-over-year in Q1, led by infrastructure management tools and workhorses like Microsoft 365. In the cloud, the industry's focus has moved from migration to governance: data sovereignty, Zero Trust security, and the rise of GPU-as-a-service models.

UC&C - Contrasts within a category

Headset sales have taken a hit as buyers reprioritise budgets. But collaboration video solutions and standalone cameras are seeing outstanding growth, driven by businesses standardising their medium-sized meeting rooms. One segment struggles while another thrives.

Looking ahead - Q2 2026

The industry enters Q2 from a higher base than a year ago. Price volatility remains a genuine challenge, but the channel has responded with flexibility — alternative product configurations, leasing solutions, and creative sourcing to keep projects on track. Supply constraints won't disappear quickly. The focus for the coming months will be on managing that reality while capturing the relentless push toward AI execution across every segment of the market.

For more on these and other IT channel trends, tune into CONTEXT’s weekly IT Industry Forum webinars. Register here.