Worldwide PC shipments declined by nearly five percent to 68.2 million units, marking the first drop in two years, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). This decline follows nine consecutive quarters of growth and began in late 2025 amid a global memory shortage that escalated into a crisis.
The AI-driven memory shortage is not expected to resolve until 2028, leading to widespread price increases across the industry. Despite falling shipments, PC manufacturers continue to see rising revenues, as “vendors are pushing price increases through faster than demand is dropping,” according to IDC researcher Jitesh Ubrani.
Ubrani pointed out the “disconnect between units and dollars,” noting the trend of decreasing shipments accompanied by climbing revenue. He anticipates an even steeper fall in shipments later this year due to inventory depletion and further price hikes that are likely to affect the PC upgrade cycle.
Amid these challenges, Apple reported an increase in PC shipments, moving an additional 800,000 units compared to the same quarter in 2025. This growth raised Apple’s market share to nearly ten percent from 8.5 percent, attributed largely to the popularity of the MacBook Neo.
However, Apple is also subject to memory-induced price hikes. The entry-level MacBook increased in price from $600 to $700, while the entry-level MacBook Air now retails for $1,300. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook emphasized the need for a return to reasonable levels for memory pricing and supply.
In financial terms, Apple reported $68.5 billion in cash on hand for the most recent quarter, a 41 percent increase year-over-year. The company’s valuation now exceeds $4.6 trillion.
