Computers Unsold, Vendors Resigned as Laptop Sales Become Increasingly Difficult

The computer industry is under pressure due to a global memory chip crisis triggered by the artificial intelligence (AI) technology boom. Research firm IDC reported that personal computer (PC) shipments fell 4.9% year-on-year (YoY) in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026 to 68.2 million units. This figure reflects a downturn in the PC market after nine consecutive quarters of growth. Besides the memory chip crisis, which has increased component costs, other factors contributing to the market sluggishness include geopolitical issues shaking the global economy.

“The core issue here is the misalignment between unit volume and revenue value. Shipment volumes are declining, yet revenues are increasing because vendors are implementing price hikes faster than the rate of demand decline,” said Jitesh Ubrani, Research Director for Consumer Devices at IDC. Ubrani stated that the memory chip shortage is predicted not to ease until early 2028. He added that worsening macroeconomic conditions and an early inventory pull-in cycle could cause a sharp slowdown in growth rates during the second half of 2026.

PC manufacturers, including laptop makers, are already preparing to raise selling prices in 2027. Meanwhile, distributors are beginning to worry about high inventory levels for higher-priced products. IDC noted that sustained cost pressures from the memory chip shortage could affect the broader PC refresh cycle, even amid growing interest in on-device AI processing, as cloud computing costs rise. The firm also highlighted the ongoing vendor consolidation, where major brands like Apple, Dell, and Lenovo leverage their scale across various business lines, including HP and servers, to secure memory supplies and squeeze out smaller competitors. “As market conditions continue to deteriorate, supply chain management becomes increasingly crucial. Large manufacturers with strong purchasing power and robust supply chain networks are in a more advantageous position than their smaller rivals,” said IDC Vice President of Consumer Devices, Jean Philippe Bouchard.

Among the top five PC manufacturers, only Apple and Asus managed to record growth. The other three, ranked first (Lenovo), second (HP), and third (Dell), shipped fewer units compared to the same period last year. Apple, in fourth place, recorded a 10.1% YoY shipment growth in Q2 2026, while Asus grew slightly by 0.2% YoY, placing it fifth.