Global shipments of personal computers fell by 21 percent in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same time last year. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, this sharp decline happened after months of rising prices for new computers. Before this drop, global PC shipments had been growing steadily for more than two years.
Analysts linked the downturn directly to higher component prices. Over the last several months, costs have risen sharply for computer memory (RAM), solid-state storage drives (SSDs), and processors made by companies like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. These price increases have pushed up retail costs across the entire market, affecting everything from premium Apple MacBooks to budget Raspberry Pi boards.
Because computer parts have become so expensive, manufacturers are offering fewer affordable choices. Counterpoint senior analyst Minsoo Kang noted that computer makers are shifting focus toward higher-end models that can better absorb rising component costs, leaving fewer low-cost options for budget-conscious buyers. To avoid even steeper price increases, some manufacturers have even started using older components again, such as DDR4 memory and smaller 4-gigabyte graphics cards.
Last year's unusual shopping trends also made this year's drop look larger. In the third quarter of 2025, many customers rushed to buy new machines ahead of the Windows 10 support deadline and expected trade tariff adjustments. Analysts warn that the computer market will not recover soon, with Counterpoint forecasting that global shipments will fall by 27 percent in the fourth quarter of 2026 and remain largely flat through 2027.