The global PC market has finally begun to feel the force of the memory crunch, and the latest shipment data shows the impact is no longer theoretical. For the first time in two years, PC shipments fell even though the market had grown steadily for nine consecutive quarters.
IDC said global PC shipments in the second quarter of 2026 slipped by nearly 5% to 68.2 million units. The decline suggests that memory price increases, which accelerated since late 2025, are now reaching finished devices in a more direct way.
Why the shortage is proving hard to escape
The problem began with rising memory prices, then deepened into a broader shortage as manufacturers prioritized advanced chips for AI infrastructure. IDC expects the pressure to persist until 2028, which means PC makers and buyers may be dealing with tighter conditions for several more years.
Even so, the market is not weak across the board. IDC noted a clear gap between unit shipments and revenue, because vendors have been raising prices faster than demand is falling.
Jitesh Ubrani of IDC told Engadget, as quoted by inet.detik.com, that “The real story here is the gap between units and dollars: shipments are down but revenue is up.” He added, “Manufacturers are preparing for further price increases through 2027.”
| Vendor | Shipment Change | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | Growth | Added more than 600,000 Mac units, with market share nearing 10% |
| Other PC vendors | Decline | Hit by higher memory costs and softer demand |
Apple stands out as the only gainer
Among the five largest PC vendors, Apple was the only company to post growth in the quarter. The gain was linked to the launch of the more affordable MacBook Neo line.
Apple shipped more than 600,000 additional Macs in the quarter compared with the same period in 2025. That helped lift the company’s market share from 8.5% to nearly 10%.
Apple has not been fully insulated from the RAM squeeze either. The company recently raised the price of the MacBook Neo from USD 600 to USD 700, while higher-end models saw larger increases.
IDC expects demand pressure to become more visible toward the end of the year. Existing device inventories are getting thinner, while consumers will face higher prices, a combination that could slow the broader PC upgrade cycle.
