Global PC shipments crater 20% as rising prices hammer demand

The global PC market experienced a significant decline in shipments, falling by over 20 percent in the third quarter of 2026. This sharp decrease can be attributed to the memory and storage shortage triggered by the AI industry, which has led to rising prices and a shift in buyer preferences towards existing machines. Omdia and IDC both reported a decline in shipments, with Omdia estimating 58.1 million units and IDC estimating 62.7 million.

The downturn followed a surge in PC purchases earlier in the year as manufacturers and buyers rushed to secure inventory before expected price increases. This early demand helped maintain shipments throughout the first half of the year, but left the industry with excess inventory and fewer buyers in Q3. Jitesh Ubrani, research director for consumer devices at IDC, noted that the industry is dealing with the aftermath of this initial pull-in.

The shortage of DRAM and SSDs, which now account for nearly 40 percent of a PC's component costs, has added to manufacturers' challenges. Other components, such as processors, graphics cards, and integrated circuits, are also experiencing shortages. Major PC vendors, including Lenovo, HP, and Dell, all reported declines in shipments, with Lenovo retaining its position as the largest PC vendor but seeing a 22.6 percent drop.

Dell and HP saw even steeper declines of 25 percent and 31 percent, respectively. While Apple showed relative resilience with an 11 percent decline, its market share still decreased. IDC predicts that shipments will continue to fall by an additional 24 percent in the fourth quarter of 2026 and another 7 percent in 2027. Despite some short-term relief from retailers and distributors trying to clear excess stock, the outlook remains bleak as high prices continue to suppress demand.