Global PC shipments declined by 21% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching approximately 57 million units. Rising memory and other component costs have pushed up computer prices, weakening demand and making upgrades less attractive to consumers.

Lenovo retained its position as the leading PC manufacturer, shipping approximately 15 million units and capturing 26.3% of the market. HP followed with 10.3 million units and an 18.1% market share, while Dell shipped 7.6 million units, representing 13.3% of the market.

Apple shipped approximately 5.6 million computers, while Asus recorded around 5.2 million units. Both companies experienced smaller shipment declines than the overall market, helping them maintain or improve their competitive positions.

Higher DRAM and NAND memory costs have contributed to the downturn by increasing manufacturing expenses. PC manufacturers have passed some of these costs on to customers, making new computers more expensive and discouraging purchases, particularly among consumers who do not urgently need an upgrade.

Commercial replacement demand has provided some support, but overall market conditions remain challenging. The outlook for the next quarter is also weak, with PC shipments forecast to contract by approximately 27% year over year in Q4 2026.

For 2027, annual PC shipment volumes are expected to remain broadly flat compared with 2026, suggesting that the market may continue to face pressure from component costs and limited consumer demand.