Global PC Shipments Drop 21% in Q3 Amid Rising RAM Prices

According to market analyst Counterpoint Research, global personal‑computer shipments plunged in Q3 2026, decreasing by 21 % versus the same quarter a year before.

Other trackers such as IDC and Omdia have observed comparable year‑over‑year declines for the period, confirming the trend. This slump represents the sharpest quarterly contraction since the 2020 pandemic surge, indicating waning demand that had previously been driven by remote‑work and gaming.

The main driver, analysts say, is the surge in memory costs. Dynamic random‑access memory (DRAM) prices have jumped markedly in recent months as data‑center operators and AI workloads vie with consumer gadgets for the same silicon. This price pressure has compelled PC makers either to lift retail prices or to sacrifice margins, curbing consumers’ willingness to upgrade.

Vendors are reacting differently: a number have postponed new model releases, while others are focusing on lower‑spec versions to maintain appealing price tags. The pressure is also nudging a move toward other form factors like tablets and Chromebooks, which require less memory or cheaper parts.

The decline is not limited to PCs. Global smartphone shipments also fell in the quarter, implying that higher component costs are echoing throughout the consumer‑electronics sector. Experts warn that persistent high memory prices could postpone a PC sales rebound, while a turnaround may depend on supply‑chain tweaks and the introduction of next‑gen memory tech later this year.