Global PC Shipments Drop 20% in Q3 2026 as AI Demand Inflates Memory Costs
Surging DRAM and SSD prices pushed global PC deliveries down by 15.8 million units year-over-year, according to IDC and Omdia data.
Worldwide personal computer shipments dropped 20 percent year-over-year during the third quarter of 2026, according to analysis from International Data Corporation (IDC) first reported by TechRadar Pro (https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-rampocalypse-has-led-global-pc-shipments-to-drop-20-percent-in-just-12-months). The downturn represents a contraction of 15.8 million units compared with the third quarter of 2025.
A separate assessment by research firm Omdia tracked a similar 21 percent annual decline. IDC's figures also recorded a 9 percent sequential contraction quarter-over-quarter.
Analysts from both firms attribute the slowdown to rising component costs driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Enterprise demand for AI data center hardware has increased competition for core memory and storage components, elevating wholesale prices for PC manufacturers.
Memory and storage now represent a significantly larger share of total build costs. According to Omdia, DRAM and solid-state drives (SSDs) have expanded from roughly 15 percent of a PC's total price to approximately 40 percent.
"The impact of upstream component cost increases has now fully worked its way through to end-market pricing," said Omdia Research Director Ishan Dutt. Omdia projects worldwide DRAM revenue will reach $372 billion in 2026, up from $151 billion in 2025, propelled by data center installations.
In the near term, retail channels may offer temporary discounts to clear backlogs. Because original equipment manufacturers built component stockpiles to hedge against rising input prices, distributors are now contending with excess inventory alongside reduced end-user demand.
"Channels are concerned about high inventory and low demand, so promotions are possible," IDC stated, noting that promotional pricing could offer momentary relief before additional cost increases take effect.
Broader market conditions, however, remain pressured. "With macro conditions worsening, the risk is that the outlook for the next few quarters gets worse before it gets better," said Jitesh Ubrani, research director for consumer devices at IDC.
Sources
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