Soaring memory prices have impacted the global PC market, and shipments are expected to decline by 5% this year

[ Gearbest Technology News]On March 26, the latest forecast released by market research organization Counterpoint Research shows that due to the sharp increase in memory semiconductor prices, the global personal computer (PC) market will face severe challenges in 2026. It is expected that full-year shipments will fall by 5% year-on-year to 262 million units.

The agency's analysis pointed out that the continued rise in memory prices has become the core factor dragging down the performance of the PC market. As investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure surges, memory demand has exploded, directly pushing up semiconductor prices. This cost pressure is transmitted to PC manufacturers, forcing them to increase the terminal selling price of their products, thereby suppressing overall market demand.

Gearbesthas observed that the market performance among major PC manufacturers is showing a trend of differentiation and polarization.

Asus and HP: As these two manufacturers are highly dependent on the low-price market and are more sensitive to price changes, they face greater bargaining pressure when memory costs rise, and their shipments are expected to decline significantly.

Lenovo and Dell Technologies: These two leading manufacturers expect shipments to decline by approximately 5%. Among them, Dell is predicted to have the slowest decline among the two due to its high proportion in the enterprise market and high-end PC field.

Apple: Against the background of the overall market downturn, Apple is regarded as a manufacturer that may seize structural opportunities. The agency pointed out that Apple’s “MacBook Neo” series, launched at a price of US$599, is strengthening its presence in the mid- to low-priced PC market. This strategy is expected to attract younger consumers into its ecosystem, potentially achieving an increase in market share.

Although most PC manufacturers are expected to see revenue declines, there are still underlying supportive factors in the market. Counterpoint Research pointed out that currently about 40% of PCs in the world are still using Windows 10 or earlier versions of the operating system. This huge base of existing equipment constitutes a potential driving force for future replacement demand.

Regarding future market trends, David Naranjo, senior researcher at Counterpoint Research, said that tight memory supply and the resulting price pressure are expected to continue until 2027, but the situation is expected to gradually ease starting from the end of this year. In addition, the popularity of artificial intelligence computers (AI PCs) will become an important driving force for the market to grow moderately or maintain stability.