Worldwide PC shipments fell 20.1% year over year in the third quarter as memory costs pushed prices up and buyers stepped back.
By the numbers: IDC counted 62.7 million units, down from 78.5 million in Q3 2025 and 9.1% below the 68.2 million shipped in Q2 2026. Third-quarter shipments normally exceed the second quarter.
- Omdia measured the same slump separately at 21.2%, to 58.1 million devices, calling it the sharpest decline since Q1 2023. Desktops fell 23.5% and laptops fell 20.6%.
The backstory: Vendors and sales channels stocked up early in 2026 to get ahead of memory price hikes, which left minimal demand to pull forward in the third quarter.
Zoom in: Memory and storage now represent nearly 40% of the bill of materials for PC manufacturing, against a typical 15%, per Omdia analyst Ben Yeh, who said PC prices have increased more than fourfold.
What they're saying: IDC research director Jitesh Ubrani said channels "are now worried about carrying too much inventory into a market where high prices are suppressing demand."
- Ubrani said promotions could bring short-term relief for consumers, while adding that prices will remain elevated and the outlook may get worse before it gets better.
What's next: Omdia expects shipments to fall another 24% next quarter and 7% across 2027. Micron and Samsung executives said last week that component shortages could run through 2028.
Why it matters: AI data centers and consumer electronics are bidding for the same memory, and the data centers are winning. If you are buying a laptop this autumn, expect any discount to be shallow and brief.
