Global PC Shipments Drop as Memory Shortage Hits Vendors

Global PC shipments declined for the first time in two years during the second quarter of 2026, falling between 3.6% and 4.9% to approximately 65.7 million to 68.2 million units. The International Data Corporation (IDC) and Omdia attribute the contraction to a severe shortage of memory and storage chips fueled by AI demand, alongside geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. This shortage pushed component prices up by 20% to 40% compared to the previous year, prompting many consumers to pull forward purchases in early 2026 and postpone current hardware refreshes.

Apple Inc. was the sole major exception to the downturn, growing shipments by 10.1% to 15.9% depending on the research firm, largely due to the launch of the budget-friendly MacBook Neo. Other industry leaders saw declines, with HP shipments dropping 9%, Dell falling around 5%, and Lenovo experiencing a 2.1% decrease. Despite lower volumes, overall manufacturer revenues rose as vendors increased product prices faster than demand declined.

Analysts warn that the memory crunch will likely persist until early 2028. This prolonged shortage is expected to cause a sharp growth slowdown in the second half of 2026 and further price hikes in 2027. While demand for AI-capable PCs remains high, experts suggest these costs may dampen the anticipated upgrade cycle and widen the digital divide in emerging markets. Large vendors are currently leveraging their scale and supplier ties to secure scarce components and capture share from smaller competitors.