The global PC market faced another challenging quarter, as new data from Counterpoint Research shows a sharp year-over-year decline in shipments. With memory chip prices continuing to pressure manufacturers and buyers delaying upgrades, the industry closed the July-September period on a notably weaker note.
According to the latest report from Counterpoint Research, worldwide PC shipments reached 57 million units in the third quarter, marking a 21% drop compared with the same period last year. The slowdown affected all major PC vendors, reflecting broad-based weakness across the market.
The research firm attributed much of the decline to increasing component costs, especially for DRAM and NAND memory chips. As those expenses rose, laptop prices became less attractive to consumers and businesses, prompting many buyers to delay replacements and postpone new purchases.
In terms of market share, Lenovo remained the industry leader. The company shipped approximately 15 million PCs during the quarter, securing a 26.3% share of the global market. HP followed in second place with around 10.3 million shipments and an 18.1% share, while Dell ranked third with 7.6 million units and a 13.3% market slice.
Despite the wider downturn, Apple managed to strengthen its market position. The company’s share rose to 9.8%, supported by continued interest in its MacBook Neo lineup. Apple shipped an estimated 5.6 million laptops during the quarter, although that total still represented an 11% decrease from a year earlier.
Asus also gained ground, increasing its market share to 9.6% after shipping about 5.2 million units. The company posted a strong 19.4% increase compared with the second quarter, making it one of the more resilient performers in a difficult market.
Looking ahead, Counterpoint expects conditions to remain tough. The firm’s analyst indicated that shipments are likely to fall further in the fourth quarter, with the market projected to contract by 27% by the end of the year. Growth is then expected to remain flat in 2027, suggesting a slow road to recovery for the global PC industry.
