PC prices to remain elevated until end of 2027
IDC has bad news for enterprises upgrading PCs: don’t expect prices to come down any time soon. PC prices are already high due to constrained supplies and surging memory and component costs. Geopolitical tensions and an uncertain global economy won’t make the situation any better. “A weaker economy could soften demand further, and with prices still high and supply constrained, the outlook for the…
PC prices are expected to remain high until the end of 2027 due to constrained supplies, surging memory and component costs, geopolitical tensions, and an uncertain global economy, according to IDC analysts. The third quarter of 2026 saw a 20.1% year-over-year decline in PC shipments, with manufacturers clearing out excess inventory amid weak demand.
HP and Microsoft are focusing on higher-value PCs and AI hardware accelerators to offset declining sales. Many enterprises had anticipated price increases and pulled back on new PC purchases. The rise of AI PCs, which make up 40% of shipments, may not be as beneficial as initially thought since most AI work occurs in the cloud. Agentic AI PCs, capable of running AI locally, cost over $2,500 and may be too expensive for budget-conscious businesses.
Lenovo led global PC shipments in Q3 2026 with 14.9 million units, followed by HP at 10.3 million and Dell at 7.6 million.
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