Global PC market set for steep decline in 2026, IDC warns

IDC forecasts that worldwide PC shipments will shrink by 11.3% in 2026, with a sharper 20% year‑on‑year drop expected in the fourth quarter. The primary driver is a global shortage of DRAM memory, as generative‑AI data centres are projected to consume about 70% of high‑end DRAM production, pushing component costs higher and inflating retail prices by up to $500 for flagship models.

Apple’s newly launched MacBook Neo is identified as the only notable upside, helping sustain demand in the notebook segment and prompting rivals such as Dell, ASUS and HP to adjust product strategies. Despite the modest lift, IDC expects the average selling price of PCs to rise 17% in 2026, with price levels unlikely to revert to 2025 levels before the end of 2027.