Higher RAM and component prices contribute to sharp decline in PC shipments
Global PC shipments fell 21 percent year over year in Q3 2026, according to Counterpoint Research, extending the reversal of more than two years of growth. The decline was in line with earlier estimates from IDC and Omdia.
The downturn is being linked to rising component prices. RAM and SSDs have become more expensive, as have processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. Those increases have translated into higher prices for products ranging from MacBooks to Raspberry Pi computers.
The market weakness is not limited to PCs. Smartphone shipments also reached a 14-year low during the same quarter, according to the report. One outlook cited by Engadget suggests the PC decline could reach 27 percent by the end of 2026 if prices continue to rise.