Key information
IDC Research reports a significant downturn in the worldwide PC market for the third quarter of 2026. Total shipments fell from 78.5 million units in Q3 2025 to 62.7 million this year, representing a 20.1% decrease.
The decline is attributed to a memory and supply chain crisis fueled by high demand for AI servers. Additionally, vendors previously pulled in stock during the first half of the year to avoid forecasted price hikes, which effectively starved Q3 of demand and disrupted seasonal patterns.
Market leaders Lenovo, HP, and Dell experienced declines exceeding the broader market average, collectively losing 4.2 points of share. HP faced the most significant impact, with its share dropping from 19.1% to 16.5%. Apple and Asus also reported growth declines of 11.3% and 8.6%, respectively.
While IDC research director Jitesh Ubrani suggests that high inventory levels might lead to consumer promotions, prices are expected to remain well above year-ago levels. Worsening macroeconomic conditions pose further risks to the industry outlook for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
