Global PC shipments drop around 20 percent in third quarter
Analyst firms report that global computer shipments experienced their steepest decline since early 2023 during the third quarter of 2026.
FTMQ Business, written by our newsroom0 views
Global personal computer shipments fell by roughly 20 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2026, according to reports from Ars Technica and Ars Technica Business citing industry analysts. Omdia reported that the drop represents the sharpest decline the industry has seen since the first quarter of 2023. [1][2]
Data from Omdia shows that global shipments of laptops, desktops, and workstations dropped 21.2 percent year over year to 58.1 million devices. Desktop PC shipments, which include desktop workstations, decreased by 23.5 percent to 11.7 million units. Laptop shipments, including laptop workstations, fell 20.6 percent to 46.4 million units during the same period. [1]
Analyst firm IDC shared similar figures for the quarter. IDC reported that PC shipments fell 20.1 percent year over year to 62.7 million units, down from 78.5 million units recorded in the third quarter of 2025. [1]
Industry analysts warned that the steep third quarter drop might mark the start of a longer downward cycle for personal computer sales. [1]
In short
- Global PC shipments fell around 20 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2026.
- Omdia reported total shipments fell 21.2 percent to 58.1 million units.
- IDC reported shipments fell 20.1 percent to 62.7 million units compared to 78.5 million in Q3 2025.
- The quarterly decrease is the sharpest drop for the PC industry since Q1 2023.
Sources
Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.
- [1]PC shipments fall 20.1 percent in “sharpest decline” since Q1 2023Ars Technica Business, 1d ago (the report this story comes from)
- [2]PC shipments fall 20.1 percent in “sharpest decline” since Q1 2023Ars Technica, 1d ago
Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 2 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.
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