The global PC market is going through a rough patch, squeezed by rising component costs and tariffs. According to data compiled by Counterpoint, worldwide PC shipments in the third quarter of 2026 fell 21% compared with the same period last year.

More than 70 million units were shipped in the same quarter a year earlier; this year the quarter closed at 57 million units. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the contraction came in at 13.8%.

The RAM crisis hits the market

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Analysts expect the gloomy outlook to continue into the final quarter of the year: a year-over-year contraction of roughly 27% is forecast for Q4. A recent IDC report also confirms the picture, showing the market shrank 20% in the third quarter.

Several factors are behind the decline. The RAM crisis, triggered by demand from artificial intelligence, stands out as the industry's biggest problem. On top of that, rising tariffs have driven component prices up sharply. The higher prices have strained consumer budgets, leading to postponed new PC purchases and delayed upgrade plans.

How did the manufacturers fare?

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The picture varies by brand. Lenovo retained its market leadership despite a 23% year-over-year decline. HP suffered the steepest drop at 31%, while Dell shrank by 25%.

By contrast, Apple, helped by the affordable MacBook Neo, recorded a decline of just 11% and grew its market share. The smallest loss was seen at ASUS, down 7%.