Global PC Shipments Have Declined 20 Percent
Total PC units shipped dropped to 62.7 million in the third quarter of 2026.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Computers
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Global PC shipments decreased by 20.1 percent year over year during the third quarter of 2026, totaling 62.7 million units. Major manufacturers including Lenovo, Dell, and HP each reported shipment declines exceeding 20 percent.
Why it matters
The market downturn follows an inventory buildup earlier this year intended to preempt memory price hikes, compounded by an AI-driven memory shortage raising costs. IDC expects this challenging situation to persist over the coming quarters.
Total shipments reached 62.7 million units for the quarter, marking a 9.1 percent decline compared to the second quarter of 2026. This follows significant drops of 28.2 percent in Q4 2022 and 28.7 percent in Q1 2023.
The players
Lenovo
Lenovo is a global technology company and one of the world's leading manufacturers of personal computers.
Dell
Dell is a major multinational technology corporation that develops and sells personal computers and server hardware.
HP
HP is a technology company that provides a wide range of personal computing devices and printing hardware.
IDC
IDC is a global market intelligence firm that provides data and analysis on the information technology and telecommunications industries.
Micron
Micron is a major producer of computer memory and data storage solutions that is currently tracking supply chain shortages.
The details
Vendors and channels loaded up on inventory during the first half of the year to hedge against anticipated memory costs, leaving retailers with excess stock. Companies are now considering price cuts to clear inventory while facing elevated costs driven by an AI-related memory and storage shortage.
Timeline
Q4 2022: PC shipments declined 28.2 percent.
Q1 2023: PC shipments declined 28.7 percent.
Q3 2026: PC shipments fell 20.1 percent year over year.
2027: The memory shortage is expected to persist.
2028: The memory shortage is expected to persist.
The Tech Race
This decline continues the contraction cycle observed in the PC market following the sharp downturns seen in late 2022 and early 2023. The industry now faces a longer-term hardware shortage that pits current inventory levels against the rising costs of AI-driven memory components.
Consumers may see potential price cuts at retailers as vendors move to clear out existing inventory. However, buyers should expect costs for new systems to remain elevated through 2027 due to ongoing global shortages in memory and storage components.
The takeaway
The current PC market slowdown is driven by a combination of overstocked inventory and supply-side constraints on memory components. Buyers should monitor upcoming holiday or seasonal promotions as retailers prioritize clearing stock before new models arrive.
Further reading
For more on industry performance trends, visit the Computers section.
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