Global PC shipments fell 20.1% year over year to 62.7 million units in the third quarter of 2026, extending the industry’s decline for a second consecutive quarter, according to research firm IDC. Shipments also dropped 9.1% compared with the previous quarter, marking a sharper downturn than the 3.8% annual decline recorded in Q2.
The decline was partly driven by excess inventory, as retailers and distributors stocked up during the first half of the year ahead of expected price increases. This reduced demand for new shipments in Q3 as businesses focused on clearing existing stock. IDC also warned that high prices and worsening economic conditions could continue to pressure the market in the coming quarters.
Lenovo remained the world’s largest PC vendor, shipping 14.9 million units and securing a 23.8% market share. HP ranked second with 10.3 million units, followed by Dell with 7.6 million, Apple with 5.9 million, and ASUS with 5.5 million shipments.
Among the top five vendors, HP recorded the steepest annual decline at 30.9%, followed by Dell at 25% and Lenovo at 22.6%. ASUS performed relatively better, with shipments falling 8.6%, while Apple reported an 11.3% decline. The figures highlight continued challenges for PC manufacturers as high prices, excess inventory, and weaker demand weigh on the global market.
