Global PC shipments fall 21% in Q3 as RAM prices surge

· Tech

Global PC shipments fell 21 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, according to Counterpoint Research, in line with earlier figures from IDC and Omdia. The decline followed months of price increases driven by rising memory costs, which pushed up the cost of new machines and dented demand. The same quarter, smartphone shipments also hit a 14-year low, suggesting the weakness extends across consumer hardware rather than being confined to PCs. The numbers matter for chipmakers, memory suppliers and PC vendors that had expected a replacement cycle to lift volumes. Counterpoint's data adds to a growing set of estimates pointing to the same conclusion: component pricing, not just demand, is now shaping shipment forecasts.

Why it matters：Memory-driven price inflation is now the dominant variable in hardware demand, affecting component suppliers, PC makers and the timing of any recovery.

Key points

  • Counterpoint's 21% decline matches earlier IDC and Omdia estimates.
  • Smartphone shipments hit a 14-year low in the same quarter.
  • Memory price hikes were cited as the driver of higher PC prices.

Sources (original reporting)

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