PC shipments fall 20.1 percent in sharpest decline since Q1 2023

Global PC shipments experienced a significant downturn in the third quarter of 2026, marking the steepest decline since the first quarter of 2023. According to data released by the market research firm Omdia, total shipments of laptops, desktops, and workstations plummeted by 21.2 percent year-over-year, reaching 58.1 million units. The contraction was widespread across form factors, with desktop PC shipments falling by 23.5 percent to 11.7 million units, while laptop shipments saw a 20.6 percent decrease to 46.4 million units. Analysts attribute this sharp reduction to ongoing market saturation and shifting consumer demand patterns. This report highlights a challenging period for hardware manufacturers as the industry struggles to maintain momentum following the post-pandemic market adjustments. The data underscores a broader trend of cooling demand for personal computing hardware as the global market continues to recalibrate its inventory levels and sales expectations for the remainder of the year.