Global PC shipments declined by 21 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, according to data from Counterpoint Research. This trend aligns with findings from industry analysts at IDC and Omdia. The downturn marks a significant shift, as the market had experienced continuous growth for more than two years leading up to the second quarter of 2026.
The decline is attributed to rising costs for key components, including RAM, SSDs, and processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. These price increases have affected a wide range of devices, from MacBooks to Raspberry Pis. Consequently, manufacturers are prioritizing configurations that can better manage component inflation, which has reduced the availability of affordable options for consumers.
To mitigate rising production costs, some companies are reintroducing older technologies, such as DDR4 RAM and 4GB GPUs. Additionally, the year-over-year comparison is impacted by high purchase volumes in the third quarter of 2025, which were driven by the Windows 10 support deadline and inventory adjustments related to tariffs.
The outlook for the PC market remains challenging. Counterpoint Research projects a 27 percent drop in global shipments for the fourth quarter of 2026, with performance expected to remain flat throughout 2027. Analysts emphasize that market stabilization in the coming periods should not be interpreted as a sign of recovery.
