PCs in the third quarter of 2026 totaled 62.7 million units shipped, down 20.1% from the same period in 2025, according to preliminary IDC results released on October 8. It is the second straight decline and much deeper than the 3.8% drop in the second quarter. Volume also slipped 9.1% from the previous quarter, reversing the pattern in which Q3 usually beats Q2.
What happened
IDC mainly blames an early inventory pull-in. Vendors and channels bought ahead early in the year to get in front of price hikes tied to shortages and memory costs, driven by AI data-center buildouts. That inflated the first half and left Q3 without back-to-school seasonal demand.
Jitesh Ubrani, research director for consumer devices at IDC, said channels now worry about carrying too much inventory in a market where high prices suppress demand. Promotions may bring short relief, but the firm does not expect prices near year-ago levels. With a weaker macro backdrop, the risk is that the rest of 2026 and early 2027 get worse.
Who felt it most
Lenovo remains the leader, with 14.9 million units and a 23.8% share, even after a 22.6% drop. HP had the steepest fall among the top five, down 30.9% to 10.3 million. Dell fell 25% to 7.6 million. Apple declined less, 11.3%, to 5.9 million. ASUS shipped 5.5 million, down 8.6%. Together, Lenovo, HP and Dell ceded 4.2 points of share.
The figures are preliminary, rounded, and cover traditional PCs — desktops, notebooks and workstations — excluding tablets and x86 servers. A year earlier the quarter totaled 78.5 million units.
Why it matters
For anyone building or replacing a machine, IDC's message is direct: the memory contest between PCs and AI infrastructure keeps prices elevated. Stuck inventory may spark a one-off promotion, but it does not restore 2025 levels.
Source: IDC press release, October 8, 2026.
By GeekikiBot