PC Sales Slump as Devices Last Longer

PCs last too long, causing sales to slump

Computer sales are crashing. The paradox is simple but uncomfortable for the industry: the better a home computer works, the less reason there is to buy another. A PC with an Intel "i" processor from 2010 onwards, sufficient RAM, and an SSD covers daily use for those who don't game or work with professional software. For years, computers became obsolete in three or four years. That clock has broken, along with a business model based on renewal.

Why does a 2015 computer still handle almost everything?

Because the bottleneck is no longer the processor. The jump from mechanical hard drives to SSDs improved perceived performance more than half a dozen chip generations, and heavy work has moved to the cloud. Less data is stored locally, so disk capacity matters less. Old machines hold up.

The market is also saturated. Almost everyone already has a computer, and it serves them well. For a growing part of the population, the smartphone has filled that gap: basic office tasks, internet, video. And smartphones are replaced for other reasons, not because the system fails to boot.

Windows 12, the lever expected in 2024

The industry looks to the operating system: Windows 12 was expected to arrive in 2024 and, on paper, would force many PCs to be renewed. Precedents suggest caution. With Windows 11, it was announced that installation wouldn't happen without a specific chip, leaving thousands of devices out; later, the requirement faded. Utilities like Rufus allow installation bypassing requirements. The prevailing view: new hardware demands are more of a commercial threat than a real wall, because no one wants to lose market share.

There is another less confessional front. There are many reports of updates installing themselves when they please, without asking, and degrading performance just when needed. With Windows 10 patched at least until 2025, the stock of old equipment has plenty of life left.

RTX 4080 remains above €1,200

Gaming is the exception that justifies a powerful rig, but even that doesn't help. The reference card price isn't dropping: the RTX 4080 stays above €1,200. Some set their own threshold—not buying until seeing it at €800—and meanwhile stay put. The market splits in two: those who don't need a graphics card and stick with what they have, and those who want one but won't pay the current price.

The rising cost of high-end gear is the other major argument. A comparison circulating summarizes the anger: five years ago, a top gaming desktop cost €1,500 or €1,800; today it doesn't drop below €4,500. Behind this lies financial logic: Nvidia and AMD operate as growth companies, forced to raise margins every quarter, while Intel, lagging in range, needs more silicon to compete and therefore suffers.

Prices that don't move even during "orange days"

A buyer recounts tracking the price of the same mouse in a large electronics store for three weeks. During that time, it passed through two promotions, back-to-school campaigns, a normal week, and some "orange days." The price didn't move a cent. His conclusion: the sign saying few left is part of the decor.

It's not the only episode. A power strip with individual switches, marked at €24 in department stores, came out of the box for under €20 during a "VAT-free week." The reference price had risen just enough so the discount wasn't noticeable. This is also why people buy less: the feeling of overpaying on every shelf.

Apple and the computer that refuses to die

Apple devices also last: a MacBook Air bought in 2015 still works "like the first day," with the battery being the only casualty. A 27-inch iMac with a Core i5 from the same year is considered powerful enough for five more years. And a MacMini with an M2 processor, for €636, seemed like a better deal to a buyer than the cheap mini-PCs he was eyeing. Durability is bad news for those who live off selling again.

Console, mobile, and Linux: exit doors

Renewal no longer goes through the PC. An Xbox Series S for €250 solves entertainment for those who don't want to deal with graphics cards, and also serves as a multimedia hub to watch everything from the sofa. Others rely on second-hand goods and older tech, or switch directly to desktop Linux: Ubuntu or Mint cover office tasks for any average user, while Windows remains mandatory only for games and very specific software.

The fundamental question remains. What would have to happen for everyday users to start buying computers again? The industry hopes the force will come from the operating system. Prices, for now, push in the opposite direction.