Global PC shipments Q3 2026 fell 20.1 per cent year on year to 62.7 million units, research firm IDC reported this week. The drop marks the second straight quarterly decline and the sharpest third-quarter fall the industry has seen in years.
The figure compares with 78.5 million units shipped in the same quarter last year. Shipments also slid 9.1 per cent from the second quarter, breaking the usual pattern in which the back-to-school quarter outperforms the spring months.
PC shipments Q3 2026 hit by early stockpiling and high prices
IDC blamed the slump largely on buying pulled forward into the first half of the year. Vendors and retailers loaded up on inventory early in 2026 to get ahead of expected price increases linked to memory costs. That boosted first-half shipments but left the third quarter starved of demand.
Supply constraints and high prices tied to the artificial intelligence data-centre buildout added to the pressure. Memory chips that would normally go into laptops and desktops are being diverted to AI servers, which carry far higher margins.
Jitesh Ubrani, IDC’s research director for consumer devices, said channels were now worried about carrying too much inventory into a market where high prices were suppressing demand. Short-term promotions could offer some relief, but pricing would stay well above year-ago levels, he added.
IDC now expects the downturn to deepen before it improves, warning worsening macroeconomic conditions could darken the outlook for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
HP suffers steepest fall as Lenovo holds top spot
Every major vendor shipped fewer machines than a year ago, but the pain was uneven. Lenovo stayed on top with 14.9 million shipments and a 23.8 per cent share, despite a 22.6 per cent annual decline.
HP recorded the steepest fall among the top five, its shipments down 30.9 per cent to 10.3 million units for a 16.5 per cent share. Dell fared little better, shipments down 25 per cent to 7.6 million units for a 12.1 per cent share.
Apple proved the most resilient of the big names. Mac shipments fell 11.3 per cent to 5.9 million units, but the overall market shrank faster, so Apple’s share rose from 8.5 to 9.5 per cent. ASUS posted the smallest decline at 8.6 per cent, shipping 5.5 million units for an 8.7 per cent share.
Together, Lenovo, HP and Dell ceded 4.2 percentage points of market share, while Apple and ASUS gained ground despite selling fewer machines.
What it means for buyers
For shoppers, the message is mixed. Retailers sitting on excess stock may cut prices to clear inventory, and some promotions are likely in the coming months. However, IDC does not expect pricing to return anywhere near last year’s levels. Institutions are feeling the pinch too, with universities facing cybersecurity hardware challenges of their own.
The memory shortage shows little sign of easing. Industry estimates suggest memory prices could keep climbing through the end of 2026, adding further cost pressure to new machines. Buyers hunting for deals may find discounts on current models, but a broad return to 2025 prices looks unlikely.
The slump also underlines how the AI boom is reshaping the hardware market. Data centres are soaking up the components that once flowed into consumer devices, and that shift is now visible in laptop prices and availability worldwide. Our coverage of the Lenovo ThinkBook 14x launch shows how vendors are positioning premium machines in a tougher market, while Pakistan’s telecom and device sector faces its own hardware budget squeeze.
Frequently asked questions
How far did global PC shipments fall in Q3 2026?
Shipments fell 20.1 per cent year on year to 62.7 million units, according to IDC, down from 78.5 million in Q3 2025. It is the second consecutive quarterly decline after a 3.8 per cent drop in Q2.
Which PC maker was hit hardest?
HP suffered the steepest decline among the top five vendors, with shipments down 30.9 per cent to 10.3 million units. Dell fell 25 per cent, while market leader Lenovo dropped 22.6 per cent but kept the top spot with a 23.8 per cent share.
Why are PC shipments falling?
IDC points to two main causes. Vendors and retailers bought heavily in the first half of 2026 to beat expected memory price rises, pulling demand forward. At the same time, AI data centres are competing for memory chips, keeping component costs and PC prices high.
Will laptop prices come down soon?
IDC expects some short-term promotions as retailers clear excess stock, but says pricing will stay well above year-ago levels. With macro conditions worsening, the outlook could get worse before it gets better.
