IDC says global PC shipments fell 20% in third quarter

Worldwide PC shipments fell 20.1% from a year earlier to 62.7 million units in the third quarter of 2026, down from 78.5 million, according to preliminary data from research firm IDC released Thursday, Oct. 8. Shipments also dropped 9.1% from the second quarter. The third quarter normally beats the second because of back-to-school buying, so a sequential decline breaks the usual pattern.finance.biggo+2

This is the second straight year-over-year decline and a much steeper one than the 3.8% drop IDC reported for the second quarter. That earlier drop was the first in nine quarters.engadget+1

Stockpiling and memory costs

IDC blamed supply constraints and high prices, both tied to rising memory costs as AI data center construction absorbs component supply. A third cause was inventory built up earlier in the year. Vendors and retailers ordered heavily in the first half to get ahead of memory-driven price increases, which pulled demand away from the third quarter.9to5mac+2

"Vendors and channels bought inventory earlier in the year ahead of price hikes, pulling demand out of Q3," IDC said, adding that continued supply constraints "left the quarter without its usual seasonal lift."9to5mac

Vendors

Every major vendor shipped fewer PCs. Lenovo ↗ 2.93% stayed in first place with 14.9 million units and a 23.8% share, down 22.6% from a year earlier. HP Inc. ↘ 1.09% had the steepest drop among the top five, with shipments down 30.9% to 10.3 million and its share falling to 16.5% from 19.1%. Dell ↘ 1.59% fell 25% to 7.6 million units, a 12.1% share.finance.biggo+1

Apple ↗ 1.29% shipped 5.9 million Macs, down 11.3% from 6.7 million. Because its decline was smaller than the market's, its share rose to 9.5% from 8.5%, and it kept fourth place. ASUS ASUSTeK Computer Inc. had the smallest decline, down 8.6% to 5.5 million units, which lifted its share to 8.7%.9to5mac+2

Outlook

IDC expects retailers worried about excess stock to run promotions soon, but said prices will stay well above year-ago levels. It also warned that a weakening economy could "darken the outlook for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027."9to5mac

"Channels are now worried about carrying too much inventory into a market where high prices are suppressing demand," said Jitesh Ubrani, IDC's research director for consumer devices. "That could translate into promotions and some short-term relief for consumers, but we don't expect pricing anywhere near what it was a year ago… With macro conditions worsening, the risk is that the outlook for the next few quarters gets worse before it gets better."engadget