Worldwide PC shipments dropped nearly five percent to 68.2 million units in the last quarter, marking the first decline in two years. This downturn is attributed to an AI-driven memory shortage, which IDC predicts will persist until 2028. The scarcity has driven up prices across the industry, impacting consumers directly.

Despite falling unit volumes, PC manufacturers are seeing rising revenues as they pass increased costs onto consumers faster than demand is declining. IDC researcher Jitesh Ubrani noted this disconnect, stating that vendors anticipate further price hikes through 2027. He also warned that dwindling inventory and rising prices could disrupt the typical PC upgrade cycle.

Apple stands out as the sole company to increase PC shipments, driven by its MacBook Neo. The company shipped 800,000 more PCs year-over-year, boosting its market share to nearly 10 percent. However, even Apple has faced memory-related price increases, raising the entry-level MacBook Neo price from $600 to $700, and the MacBook Air to $1,300. Apple reported $68.5 billion in cash on hand, a 41 percent year-over-year increase.