Global PC shipments fell 21% year over year in Q3 2026, reaching 57 million units, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research. All major PC brands recorded declines as rising component costs pushed laptop prices higher and weakened demand.
Higher prices for DRAM and NAND memory chips were the main factors behind the slowdown. As a result, many consumers delayed laptop purchases and postponed device upgrades, putting further pressure on shipments.
Lenovo remained the world’s largest PC vendor, shipping 15 million units during the July-September period. The company held a 26.3% market share. HP ranked second with an estimated 10.3 million shipments and an 18.1% share, while Dell secured third place with 7.6 million units and a 13.3% share.
Apple and Asus were among the few brands to gain market share during the quarter. Apple’s share reached 9.8%, supported by steady demand for its MacBook Neo. However, the company shipped an estimated 5.6 million laptops, marking an 11% decline compared with Q3 last year.
Asus also strengthened its position, reaching a 9.6% market share with 5.2 million shipments. The company recorded an impressive 19.4% increase compared with Q2 2026.
The outlook for the PC market remains challenging as shipments are expected to decline further in Q4. According to a Counterpoint analyst, the market could contract by 27% by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, the analyst expects growth to remain flat in 2027.