PC Market Continues Downturn with 20.1% Decline in Q3 2026 Shipments
Global PC shipments fell 20.1% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, totaling 62.7 million units. IDC attributes the decline to prior inventory build-ups and ongoing supply constraints.
Global personal computer shipments experienced a significant downturn, dropping 20.1% year-over-year to 62.7 million units in the third quarter of 2026, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). This marks the second consecutive quarter of decline, with a steeper fall compared to the previous period.
The decrease is partly attributed to vendors and channel partners building inventory earlier in the year in anticipation of price increases, which pulled demand forward and left less for the third quarter. Persistent supply chain issues also hampered manufacturers' ability to ship devices. These factors disrupted the typical seasonal pattern, resulting in third-quarter shipments falling below second-quarter levels.
Lenovo remained the market leader with 14.9 million units shipped and a 23.8% market share, despite a 22.6% year-over-year decline. HP and Dell saw larger drops of 30.9% and 25.0%, respectively. Apple's shipments decreased by 11.3%, and Asus by 8.6%.
IDC suggests that prices may see minor, short-term reductions as channel partners attempt to clear high inventory levels amid weak demand. However, broader macroeconomic concerns could further suppress demand, presenting a challenging outlook for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.