Business · Trade · 2 days ago
Global PC shipments fell 20% in the third quarter of 2026
Worldwide shipments of personal computers fell sharply in the third quarter of 2026, covering July through September.
IDC counted 62.7 million units, 20.1% fewer than in the same period a year earlier; Omdia estimated a 21.2% drop.
These figures track computers sent to retailers and other channels, not necessarily purchases by consumers.
Earlier in the year, companies and retailers ordered extra stock ahead of expected price increases, which helped lift shipments but left them with more inventory to sell.
In the third quarter, they bought less new stock as high prices weakened demand, and shipments also fell 9.1% from the previous quarter.
Lenovo remained the largest vendor by shipments, while HP had the biggest year-over-year decline among the leading brands in IDC's figures.
Retailers may offer some promotions to clear stock, but IDC expects prices to remain above last year's levels.
Omdia expects shipments to fall further in the fourth quarter and decline again across 2027.
Global PC shipments fell sharply in the third quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier.
IDC estimated a 20.1% decline to 62.7 million units, while Omdia reported a 21.2% decline to 58.1 million.
Shipments also fell from the second quarter, bucking the usual seasonal pattern.
Analysts linked the downturn to inventory built up earlier in the year and high component prices that are suppressing demand.
IDC said some promotions may offer short-term relief, but it does not expect prices to return to year-earlier levels.
- Who
- Global PC makers and the retailers, distributors and buyers in their supply channels.
- What
- Shipments fell year over year in the third quarter. IDC estimated a 20.1% drop, while Omdia estimated a 21.2% drop.
- When
- The third quarter of 2026, from July to September.
- Where
- Worldwide.
- Why
- Earlier stockpiling left supply channels with excess inventory, while high memory and storage costs contributed to elevated prices and weaker demand.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Vendors and channels loaded up on inventory early in the year to get ahead of price hikes, and that has thrown off the usual seasonality, where Q3 is typically larger than Q2.
channels are now worried about carrying too much inventory into a market where high prices are suppressing demand
pull-forward activity buoyed the PC market in the first half of the year
With macro conditions worsening, the risk is that the outlook for the next few quarters gets worse before it gets better.
Global PC shipments rose 3.2% year over year, with reports attributing the increase to buyers and vendors bringing purchases forward.
Shipments fell year over year; IDC's estimate was later revised from 4.9% to 3.8%.
Shipments fell 9.1% from Q2, with IDC estimating 62.7 million units and Omdia estimating 58.1 million.
Omdia expects global PC shipments to fall another 24% year over year.
Omdia expects shipments to decline a further 7% across the year.
- IDC Q3 estimate
- 62.7 million shipments; down 20.1% year over year
- Omdia Q3 estimate
- 58.1 million shipments; down 21.2% year over year
- Sequential change
- IDC estimated shipments fell 9.1% from Q2 2026
- Largest vendor by shipments
- Lenovo, with 14.9 million units and 23.8% market share, according to IDC
- Largest vendor decline
- HP, down 30.9% year over year in IDC's estimate
- Omdia forecast
- Shipments to fall 24% year over year in Q4 2026 and 7% across 2027
Sources
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