Global PC shipments have experienced a sharp downturn, plunging over 20 percent compared to the previous year. Data compiled by market research firm Counterpoint reveals that worldwide PC shipments dropped 21 percent year-over-year for the third quarter. While the industry shipped more than 70 million units during this period last year, volume has fallen to 57 million.
Market Decline and Future Forecasts
The downturn is accelerating rapidly, marked by a quarter-over-quarter reduction of 13.8 percent. Counterpoint forecasts indicate that this negative trend will persist, with projections for the fourth quarter pointing to a year-over-year reduction of around 27 percent. Additional research from the International Data Corporation confirms these figures, reporting similar declines for the third quarter.
Drivers Behind the Downturn
Rising component prices and global tariffs are driving up system costs, making hardware increasingly unaffordable for many buyers. Counterpoint senior analyst Minsoo Kang notes that escalating memory and component expenses force consumers to delay replacement purchases as affordability becomes a critical purchasing factor. Consequently, even market leaders are struggling to maintain their shipment momentum.
Market conditions reflect a reaction to prior buying behavior rather than an unexpected shock. The year 2025 and early 2026 saw strong shipment numbers as consumers rushed to acquire new computers before prices escalated. Industry observers anticipated this market correction, though recovery remains dependent on memory and component prices eventually stabilizing.
Vendor Performance and Market Share
Major manufacturers are navigating the crisis with varying degrees of success. Lenovo remains the market leader despite suffering a 23 percent year-over-year decline in shipments. Other major vendors faced steeper drops, with HP experiencing a 31 percent decline and Dell recording a 25 percent decrease.
Apple weathered the contraction better than most competitors, limiting its decline to 11 percent and expanding its overall market share. This resilience is attributed to the budget-friendly MacBook Neo. ASUS similarly navigated the difficult market conditions with the smallest decline among top vendors, posting a year-over-year drop of just seven percent.
Industry trackers note that the broader 20 percent decline in global PC shipments is compounded by shifting inventory pull-ins. Seasonal expectations were inverted as third-quarter results dropped 9.1 percent below second-quarter figures, contrasting with normal historical patterns. With component cost pressures persisting, market analysts expect similar conditions to characterize the industry through 2027.
