Technology

2026 will bring sharpest PC declines in over a decade — PC shipments to fall 10.4%

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Mar 3, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

Global PC shipments are projected to decline by 10.4% in 2026, with smartphone shipments also expected to fall by 8.4%, driven by a surge in DRAM and SSD prices. This decline is the steepest in over a decade, leading to a 17% increase in PC prices and extended lifetimes for PCs. The rise in memory costs is impacting the industry, with HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus all planning to pass on higher costs to consumers. IDC's forecast is even more pessimistic, with a projected 11.3% decline in the PC market and a 12.9% decline in smartphones. The memory shortage is affecting various tech products, leading to sold-out items and price hikes.

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2026 PC shipment forecast slashed amid memory shortages — IDC says total PC market value to nonetheless increase to $274 billion due to ongoing price hikes

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