Russia's New Laptop Sales Fall 19% as Refurbished Demand Soars

Higher prices drive the slump

Citilink named rising prices as the main cause. According to the retailer, prices climbed by 30–35%, and many Russians postponed planned upgrades. RWB added that more expensive components pushed prices up. OFD Platform noted that people also upgrade less often because their existing devices still meet their needs.

Buyers increasingly choose budget models, and the fall in demand was sharpest in offline retail. M.video said laptops are bought several years ahead with a performance reserve for work, study and gaming. Interest in premium models persists, which explains why revenue is falling more slowly than unit sales.

This is the second consecutive year of decline. In 2025, sales fell by 15–30%, depending on the source: about 2.9 million laptops worth 169–183 billion rubles, versus 3.9 million units worth 212–242 billion rubles a year earlier.

Repairs, used and refurbished devices gain

Demand for repairs is growing. Between January and September, the average bill for such services rose 11%, and the median bill rose by the same amount to 2,603 rubles. M.video calculated that sales of refurbished devices grew almost fourfold in the first nine months of 2026, with net turnover in the category almost tripling. On Avito, demand for refurbished laptops jumped eightfold.

Used laptops are also in higher demand: Avito sales rose 14% year on year. With the same specifications, used machines cost on average 30–45% less than new ones. On WB Recycle, the number of laptops sold from March to September rose almost fivefold. The companies did not give absolute figures.