Worldwide hardcopy peripherals shipments reflected a challenging start to 2026, according to the latest release of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker. The Q1 2026 results reveal a market navigating a confluence of structural transformation and cyclical pressure. Geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the Middle East War added to longer-term headwinds, weighing on supply chains and product availability.
At the product level, inkjet and laser followed divergent paths. Inkjet shipments remained broadly stable year on year, underpinned by ongoing consumer and SMB migration toward ink tank technology, which continued to gain ground at the expense of cartridge-based devices in virtually every geography. In contrast, laser shipments saw a more pronounced contraction, reflecting a combination of cautious enterprise IT spending, extended device refresh cycles, and sustained competition from increasingly cost-competitive inkjet alternatives in segments traditionally served by entry-level laser.
“The global ink-cartridge-to-ink-tank transition illustrates how vendors and channels adapt to changing market needs for home and office users. Building a strategy on granular data by technology and country is what separates reactive from proactive vendors,” said Roberto Alunni, Senior Director, IDC.