The memory crisis just broke PC sales' growth streak — shipments dropped globally in Q2 2026, and only one PC brand saw any improvement

A silver Alienware laptop sits at an angle on a light surface with a blue abstract background. A bar chart graphic overlay shows a downward trend with a red arrow.

I've been keeping an eye on global PC shipments as part of the ongoing RAM crisis for more than a year, and it seems that the component shortage has finally caught up with markets.

Global PC shipments dropped 4% year-over-year in Q2 2026 according to a new study by Counterpoint Research. That drop resulted in roughly 65 million shipments for the quarter, ending a growth run that had held since Q1 2025.