Worldwide PC shipments experienced a dramatic 20.1% drop in the third quarter of 2026, falling from 78.5 million units in Q3 2025 to 62.7 million units this year, according to IDC figures. This steep decline has been largely attributed to the ongoing memory and supply chain crisis, fueled by high demand from AI servers.
The IDC report indicates that a strategic 'pull-in' of stock by vendors in the first half of 2026, in anticipation of price increases, effectively borrowed volume from the latter half of the year. This artificially boosted early-year shipments, leaving the third quarter with suppressed demand. Traditionally, the third quarter is a stronger sales period than the second, but this year saw a reversal of that pattern.
"Channel concern over high inventory and soft demand at elevated prices could bring promotions in the near term, but pricing will stay well above year-ago levels," the IDC report stated. Furthermore, worsening macroeconomic conditions pose a risk, potentially leading to lower demand throughout the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
The market downturn was not evenly distributed among manufacturers. Lenovo, HP, and Dell saw their market share decrease, collectively losing 4.2 points. HP was particularly affected, dropping from a 19.1% market share to 16.5%. Despite this, Lenovo remains the largest PC shipper, followed by HP and Dell in second and third place, respectively, maintaining their prior year rankings. Apple experienced an 11.3% decrease in growth, while Asus saw its growth figures decline by 8.6%.
Industry analysts and executives have previously warned of an increasingly challenging period for PC component availability and pricing. The ongoing demand for memory components, driven by AI infrastructure, is expected to keep prices elevated for the foreseeable future. While some short-term promotions might occur due to excess inventory, a return to previous price levels is not anticipated. The broader economic climate further darkens the outlook for the PC market into 2027.