PC shipments fall 20.1 percent in “sharpest decline” since Q1 2023
ars ·
PC shipments experienced a sharp 20.1 percent year-over-year decline in the third quarter of 2026, marking the steepest drop since the first quarter of 2023 according to analyst firm IDC. Global shipments fell to approximately 62.7 million units, with both desktop and laptop categories seeing significant reductions. This downturn was largely driven by high inventory levels that vendors accumulated earlier in the year due to anticipated memory price hikes. Consequently, minimal consumer demand remained during Q3 as channels struggled to clear excess stock. The industry is also facing severe supply chain pressures, as surging AI-related demand for HBM and server DRAM has limited manufacturing capacity for consumer devices. These factors have caused PC prices to rise more than fourfold, further suppressing market demand. Analysts warn that this decline may signal the start of a new downward cycle, with Omdia predicting continued drops in the near future. Component shortages and elevated costs are expected to persist through 2028, complicating inventory management for PC vendors.
ars