The global market for PC shipments has experienced a notable decline for the first time in two years, primarily due to an ongoing crisis in memory components. This trend marks a shift from the previous nine quarters, during which shipments consistently increased.
Declining Shipments Amid Rising Prices
According to a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), global PC shipments fell close to 5% in the second quarter of 2026, totaling 68.2 million units. This decrease began at the end of 2025, when escalating memory prices transformed into a full-blown crisis. Manufacturers shifted their focus toward producing advanced chips for AI infrastructure, leading to reduced availability of memory for PC production. IDC forecasts that this shortage may persist until 2028.
Increasing Revenue Despite Lower Shipments
Interestingly, IDC's research revealed a paradox where, despite the drop in PC shipments, revenues for manufacturers have actually risen. This increase is attributed to vendors raising prices faster than the decline in demand. Jitesh Ubrani, a researcher at IDC, commented on this phenomenon: "The real story here is the gap between units and dollars: shipments are down but revenues are up." He also noted that manufacturers are bracing for further price increases into 2027.
Future Demand and Market Dynamics
Looking ahead, Ubrani anticipates a sharper decline in demand as the year progresses. This downturn is expected as existing inventory dwindles and consumers face even higher prices. Such conditions may hinder the typical upgrade cycle for many users.
Apple's Performance Amidst Market Challenges
Among the top five PC vendors, only Apple reported growth during this period. This growth coincided with the launch of the more affordable MacBook Neo, which has proven popular. Apple shipped over 600,000 additional Macs in this quarter compared to the same timeframe in 2025, boosting its market share from 8.5% to nearly 10%.
However, Apple is not immune to the RAM price hikes. Recently, the company raised the price of the MacBook Neo from USD 600 to USD 700, with even greater increases for its premium products. This trend highlights the broader impact of the RAM crisis on the entire PC market.
Source: https://inet.detik.com/consumer/d-8568310/pengapalan-pc-turun-pertama-kalinya-dalam-2-tahun-gegara-krisis-ram
