Global PC shipments decline as the DRAM and supply crisis takes hold

According to the latest report from Counterpoint Research, the estimated 65 million units of global PC shipments in Q2 2026 represent a 4% decrease year-over-year. And this is the first downward trend since Q1 2025, with the firm stating that one of the key reasons for the decline is rising component costs, specifically for memory.

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The dramatic increase in DRAM costs over the past year is something that we've covered extensively, with the quick summary being that supply is struggling to meet demand due to the unprecedented appetite for high-speed or HBM memory from the AI and data center market. And with memory makers focusing on this lucrative boom, the consumer tech market is now being forced to pay significantly more for memory for anything PC-related.

The report notes that the three biggest companies in the PC space, Lenovo, Dell, and HP, have seen their overall shipments for the quarter decline by a single-digit percentage compared to the same period last year. Interestingly, two companies have actually seen growth: Apple and ASUS.

Thanks to the launch of devices like the affordable MacBook Neo, Apple's PC shipments for Q2 2026 actually grew by 13%. Although its Q2 growth was a lower 4%, ASUS has seemingly bucked the trend by adopting new processor technology first and heavily backing and supporting the AI PC market for consumers.

And when it comes to the big three that saw a decline, the report indicates that Dell's commercial business helped shield it from the brunt of the memory crisis downturn. In contrast, Lenovo's "deep supply chain" relationships for components helped it maintain its market leadership with a 25.6% share.

"While commercial refresh cycles tied to Windows migration and AI PC adoption continue to support demand, surging memory prices and higher component costs are increasingly constraining OEM production plans and suppressing consumer demand," the report states. "The sharp increase in DRAM prices has significantly raised PC bill-of-material (BoM) costs, forcing OEMs to implement price increases, reduce entry-level configurations, or prioritize higher-margin premium systems."

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Which OEMs saw shipment declines in Q2 2026 and by roughly what magnitude does the article describe those declines?

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Which two companies recorded shipment growth in Q2 2026 and what product or strategy does the article credit for their gains?

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How has the DRAM price increase affected PC OEMs’ product strategies according to the report?

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This trend is likely to continue, with Counterpoint Research's Associate Director David Naranjo adding that "2026 is likely to focus more on creating value than on growing shipments."