Memory price surge cuts global smartphone and PC shipments in Q2 2026

Global smartphone shipments fell 4% year‑on‑year in the second quarter of 2026 as a sharp rise in memory and storage costs disrupted supply chains, according to Omdia. Samsung retained its 22% market share and grew, while Apple achieved a record 20% share, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 series and stable pricing.

The worldwide PC market also contracted, with total shipments dropping 3.6% to 65.7 million units. Desktop shipments slipped 1.3% to 13.9 million and notebook shipments fell 4.2% to 51.7 million. Elevated component prices pushed PC prices up 20‑40% year‑over‑year, prompting many consumers and businesses to pull forward purchases earlier in the year and delay further hardware refreshes.

Analysts from Omdia highlighted that memory and storage now account for over 60% of the bill of materials for budget smartphones and more than 30% for premium models, intensifying cost pressures across the sector.