The global PC market suffered a record drop due to rising component prices
Global PC shipments fell 21% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, ending more than two years of continuous market growth.
Global PC shipments fell 21% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, ending more than two years of continuous market growth.
This is evidenced by data from the analytical company Counterpoint Research, which is cited by The Verge. Similar trends were also recorded in their latest reports by IDC and Omdia. The decline in the PC market also affected related segments: during the same period, global smartphone shipments fell to a 14-year low.
Analysts say the main reason for the decline is the rapid rise in component prices. In recent months, prices for RAM, SSDs, as well as Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors have risen. This has led to higher prices for end products in all segments — from MacBooks to Raspberry Pi boards.
“Some companies are shifting to prioritize configurations that better compensate for component price inflation, leaving fewer options available to price-sensitive buyers,” said Counterpoint Senior Analyst Minsu Kang. To reduce costs, manufacturers are forced to return to previous generations of technology, including DDR4 memory and graphics cards with 4 GB of RAM.
An additional factor in the high base of comparison was last year’s figures. In the third quarter of 2025, there was a surge in purchases against the backdrop of the end of support for Windows 10 and inventory adjustments due to new tariffs. According to the forecasts of Counterpoint Deputy Director David Naranjo, in the fourth quarter of 2026 the drop in shipments could reach 27%, and the market is not expected to stabilize before 2027.
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