Overview
- Counterpoint’s report, published Oct. 22–23, shows global PC shipments fell 21% year‑over‑year to about 57 million units in Q3 2026.
- All major vendors posted double‑digit declines in the quarter with Lenovo down 23%, HP down 31%, Dell down 25%, Apple down 11% and ASUS down 7%, leaving Lenovo as the market leader on lower volumes.
- Component contract prices jumped sharply in Q3 with 8GB DDR4 rising about 24% quarter‑over‑quarter and 1TB NVMe SSDs up about 29%, and Counterpoint projects further RAM and SSD increases into Q4 and early 2027.
- OEMs are shifting toward higher‑margin configurations and reviving older parts such as DDR4 to absorb higher bills of materials, a move that narrows affordable options and leads many consumers to shop refurbished or delay purchases.
- Forecasters diverge on the recovery: Counterpoint sees an additional 27% drop in Q4 and price relief by H1 2027, while suppliers like Micron warn shortages could persist into 2028, making the timing of a sustained rebound uncertain.