The computer market is going through a really tough phase right now, and even the biggest brands are feeling the heat. Recent data from Counterpoint Research shows that global computer shipments dropped quite a bit in the third quarter of 2026. While Apple also saw fewer computers leaving its factories, the company actually managed to grab a bigger piece of the total market pie compared to last year.
Apple grabs more market share as global computer sales drop
Global computer shipments fell by 21 percent compared to the same time last year. Companies shipped around 57 million units in total during the third quarter of 2026. Prices for memory and other parts have gone up, making computers more expensive for buyers. Because of these higher price tags, many people are deciding to wait before replacing their older machines.
Even with this slowdown, Apple saw its market share grow from 8.7 percent to 9.8 percent. The company shipped 5.6 million computers during this time. That is an 11 percent drop from the previous year, but it is much better than the 21 percent drop seen across the whole industry. The newly released Mac models, specifically the MacBook Neo, played a big part in keeping these numbers relatively strong.
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Rising part costs push buyers to delay their computer upgrades
Industry experts note that higher costs for computer parts are forcing brands to raise their prices. Consumers are holding onto their current devices for much longer than usual to avoid spending extra money. While some businesses are still buying new computers to update their offices, regular shoppers are buying far less. Lenovo remains the top brand worldwide, but even they experienced a 23 percent drop in shipments over the past year.
Looking ahead, researchers expect things to slow down even more in the final months of 2026. Shipments could fall by 27 percent in the fourth quarter. The market might level out in 2027, but buyers will likely keep looking for the best value before spending their money on a new machine.
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