In January–September 2026, 1.94 million new laptops were sold in Russia, which is 19% less than in the same period of 2025, according to research company ICMR (GFK-Rus). In monetary terms, sales volume reached 132 billion rubles, a 5% decrease year-on-year. The negative trend was confirmed by major retailers: Citylink recorded a 20% drop in sales, and OFD Platform reported a 9% decline. Absolute figures were not disclosed by either company. Thus, the market for new portable PCs is showing a steady contraction for the second consecutive year.

Price factor: 30–35% increase

Citylink cited rising prices as the main reason for the negative trend: over the year, the cost of laptops increased by 30–35%, prompting a significant portion of buyers to postpone scheduled device upgrades. According to RWB, the price hike is driven by cheaper components on the global market. The discrepancy between unit and monetary indicators (−19% and −5% respectively) is explained by consumers increasingly opting for budget models, though interest in high-end devices remains, which cushions the ruble-denominated drop.

Consumers postpone replacements: devices 'last for years'

OFD Platform noted that another factor behind the drop in demand is that electronics currently owned by Russians continue to meet their needs. M.Video added that laptops are purchased several years in advance with a performance reserve for work, study, and gaming, making the replacement cycle objectively long. The drop in demand was most pronounced in offline retail, whereas the online channel showed more stable dynamics.

Second consecutive year: how the market lost volume

The contraction of the new laptop market continues for a second year. In 2025, sales fell by an estimated 15–30%: about 2.9 million devices were purchased for 169–183 billion rubles, compared to 3.9 million devices for 212–242 billion rubles in 2024. Thus, over two years, the market volume in unit terms has shrunk by approximately 50% relative to the peak level of 2024.

Refurbished and used laptops: explosive demand growth

Against the backdrop of rising prices for new devices, demand for alternative purchasing formats is growing in parallel. From January to September 2026, the average check for technical repair services increased by 11%, with the median check reaching 2,603 rubles. Sales of refurbished devices nearly quadrupled in the first nine months, and net turnover in this category almost tripled, M.Video estimated. On Avito, demand for refurbished laptops surged eightfold over the same period. Used device sales on Avito grew by 14% year-on-year; with comparable specifications, second-hand laptops cost on average 30–45% less than new ones. On the WB Recycle platform, the number of sold laptops increased nearly fivefold from March to September 2026. Absolute figures were not disclosed by the companies.

What this means for the market

The combination of factors—rising component prices, an extended device replacement cycle, a shift in demand toward the budget segment, and the active development of the secondary market—is shaping a new demand structure for portable electronics in Russia. Judging by the dynamics, retailers and service companies are restructuring their assortments and services to cater to refurbishment and resale demands, rather than relying solely on primary sales. It is expected that if current price pressure on components persists, the trend toward a shrinking new device market and a growing refurbished tech segment will continue through the remaining months of 2026.