Fresh data from Counterpoint Research indicates a significant downturn in the computing sector, with global PC shipments falling to 57 million units during the third quarter (July-September). This latest report highlights a 21% year-over-year slump, a trend that has impacted nearly every major hardware manufacturer.

Industry analysts attribute this contraction primarily to the escalating costs of essential components. Specifically, price hikes for NAND and DRAM memory chips have driven up the retail cost of laptops, prompting consumers to delay upgrades and stifle overall market demand.

Counterpoint: Global PC shipments were down 21% in Q3

In terms of market dominance, Lenovo continues to hold the top spot, moving 15 million units to secure a 26.3% share of the global market. HP follows in second place with roughly 10.3 million shipments (18.1% share), while Dell maintains the third position, accounting for 13.3% of the market with 7.6 million units shipped.

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Despite the general decline, Apple managed to expand its market footprint to 9.8%, buoyed by the consistent popularity of the MacBook Neo. Although Apple's shipments of 5.6 million units actually represent an 11% drop compared to the previous year, its relative share grew. Similarly, Asus climbed to a 9.6% market share, shipping 5.2 million units—a notable 19.4% increase over its Q2 performance.

The outlook for the remainder of the year remains bleak. Counterpoint analysts predict that the downward trajectory will persist into Q4, forecasting a market contraction of 27% by year-end, with growth expected to remain stagnant throughout 2027.