Global PC Shipments Slump as Memory Chip Crisis Bites
A global shortage of memory chips is beginning to squeeze the computer industry’s performance. The surge in component demand to support the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is now impacting the PC market.
According to a report by research firm IDC, global personal computer shipments fell 4.9% year-on-year (YoY) in Q2 2026 to 68.2 million units. This figure reflects a downturn in the PC market after nine consecutive quarters of growth.
Beyond the memory chip crisis making components more expensive, geopolitical issues shaking the global economy are also cited as a factor causing the PC market slump.
“The core issue here is the misalignment between unit volume and revenue value. Shipment volumes are declining, yet revenue is actually 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 the memory chip shortage crisis is predicted not to ease until early 2028. He noted that worsening macroeconomic conditions and an inventory pull-forward cycle could cause a sharp slowdown in growth rates during the second half of 2026.
Personal computer manufacturers, including laptop makers, are also preparing to raise selling prices in 2027. Meanwhile, distributors are beginning to worry about high inventory levels for higher-priced products.
IDC said 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 operational scale across related business lines, including HP and servers, to secure memory supplies and squeeze out 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 competitors,” said IDC VP of Consumer Devices, Jean Philippe Bouchard.
Among the ‘Top 5’ PC manufacturers, only Apple and Asus managed to record growth. The other three manufacturers occupying first (Lenovo), second (HP), and third (Dell) place shipped products in smaller quantities compared to the same period last year.
Apple, in fourth place, recorded a shipment growth of 10.1% YoY in Q2 2026. Meanwhile, Asus grew slightly by 0.2% YoY during Q2 2026, placing fifth.