PC shipments fall but companies are making more profits: IDC
Last Updated: 2026-07-14 07:46:48
Global personal computer (PC) shipments recorded their first decline in two years during the second quarter of 2026, signaling a shift in market momentum. According to IDC, total shipments dropped by 4.9% year-on-year to 68.2 million units, ending a streak of nine consecutive quarters of growth. However, despite the slowdown in volume, PC manufacturers are seeing higher revenues—driven largely by rising device prices.
Why PC Sales Are Falling
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The primary factor behind the dip in shipments is an ongoing shortage of memory components. The global supply crunch has affected not only RAM but also storage chips, creating production constraints across the electronics sector. Manufacturers had previously managed to sustain shipments by advancing inventory shipments, but that strategy has now reached its limit.
In addition, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions continue to add pressure, making it harder for vendors to maintain consistent production levels.
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Interestingly, the drop in shipments has not translated into reduced earnings for PC makers. Industry analysts highlight a widening gap between unit sales and revenue, where fewer devices are being sold, but at significantly higher prices.
This trend indicates that manufacturers are successfully passing increased component costs on to consumers. As a result, even with declining demand, overall revenue remains strong. In simple terms, buyers are paying more per device, helping companies maintain profitability.
The supply constraints are not expected to ease anytime soon. Experts predict that the memory shortage could continue until early 2028, prolonging pricing pressure across the market. With no significant inventory buffer left and economic conditions tightening, the second half of 2026 could see an even sharper slowdown in shipments.
Looking ahead, PC vendors are already preparing for additional price increases in 2027. Retailers are also expressing concern about holding higher-cost inventory for extended periods, which could affect sales cycles.
While most major PC brands experienced declining shipments, Apple stood out as an exception. The company achieved a 10.1% increase in shipments, reaching 6.7 million units in Q2 2026. Its market share also rose from 8.5% to 9.9%, largely driven by strong demand for its newly launched MacBook Neo.
Meanwhile, Lenovo retained its position as the global leader with a 24.4% market share, despite a slight decline in shipments. HP and Dell, on the other hand, saw more significant drops of 9% and 5%, respectively.
Apple’s strong supplier relationships and scale have helped it manage component shortages more effectively than many competitors. However, even Apple has implemented price increases, with entry-level MacBook models becoming more expensive due to rising component costs.