Global PC shipments have experienced their first year-on-year decline since early 2025, according to new research from Counterpoint. The trend aligns with earlier reports from IDC, indicating a significant slowdown in the personal computer market. This downturn is attributed to a confluence of factors, primarily the escalating cost of memory components and overall higher production expenses, which are impacting both manufacturers' strategies and consumer purchasing power.
Counterpoint's analysis highlights that while initiatives like Windows migration and the promotion of AI PCs continue to stimulate some demand within the commercial sector, the sharp rise in DRAM prices has significantly inflated the bill-of-materials for PCs. This has compelled original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to implement price increases, pare down entry-level configurations, or shift their focus towards more profitable premium systems. The resulting higher costs are increasingly suppressing consumer demand.
Year-on-year shipment figures reveal a mixed performance among major manufacturers. Lenovo saw a 2% decrease, HP an 8% decrease, and Dell a 6% decrease in shipments. In contrast, Asus reported a 4% increase, and Apple experienced a notable 13% growth, which may be partly attributed to its MacBook Neo offerings. However, the gains by Asus and Apple were not substantial enough to counteract the overall market contraction.
The current economic climate, characterized by increased component costs, has made acquiring new PCs particularly challenging. Even systems aimed at gaming, which historically offered competitive pricing, have seen price hikes. Deals on mid-range gaming PCs are now frequently found around the $1,500 mark, and budget-friendly options under $1,000 have become scarce. Furthermore, some affordable systems are now being configured with older DDR4 memory or limited single-channel DDR5 setups, reflecting compromises made due to component scarcity and expense.
Companies like Framework, which offers transparent pricing updates based on supplier costs, have also been affected. Framework recently reported that its memory supplier had more than doubled the cost of certain components. While larger manufacturers may possess greater capacity to absorb such cost increases in the short term, sustained price inflation poses a significant challenge to production plans and market stability across the industry.