Decline in PC Shipments
Demand for new personal computers decreased significantly following months of continuous price increases. Counterpoint Research data indicates that global PC shipments dropped 21 percent year-over-year during the third quarter of 2026, aligning with previous market analyses from IDC and Omdia. Alongside computers, the mobile market also faced downturns during the same period.
PC shipments dropped over 20 percent in Q3 due to RAM price hikes
Market researchers attribute the reduced consumer demand directly to inflated hardware costs.
Component Inflation
Counterpoint connected the downward trend in shipments to elevated component pricing. Prior to the second quarter of 2026, the PC industry had experienced continuous growth for more than two years. However, subsequent months saw increased costs for RAM, solid-state drives, and processors from major manufacturers like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, resulting in higher retail prices across various devices. Analysts observed that manufacturers are adjusting configurations to manage component inflation, while some brands reintroduce older technologies like DDR4 memory to maintain lower price points for buyers.
Market Outlook
Counterpoint also noted that Q3 2025 included purchases ahead of the Windows 10 support deadline and tariff-related inventory adjustments, which added to the sharp year-over-year drop. With global shipments expected to plunge 27 percent in Q4 2026 and remain broadly flat in 2027, stabilization should not be mistaken for recovery.
