AI data centers squeeze memory capacity, PC and smartphone shipments both plunge in Q3 2026
In Q3 2026, global PC shipments fell 20.1% year-on-year to 62.7 million units, and smartphone shipments fell 22.0% year-on-year to 255.3 million units; IDC called both the largest quarterly declines on record. The article attributes the cause to AI data centers preferentially consuming HBM, server DRAM, and enterprise SSD capacity, which drove consumer memory prices sharply higher, with smartphone memory costs rising about 350% in a year. Over the same period, global semiconductor market monthly billings reached $159.7 billion, up 144.3% year-on-year, and IDC expects the smartphone market may not recover until 2028 at the earliest.
In Q3 2026, global PC shipments fell 20.1% year-on-year to 62.7 million units, and smartphone shipments fell 22.0% year-on-year to 255.3 million units; IDC called both the largest quarterly declines on record. The article attributes the cause to AI data centers preferentially consuming HBM, server DRAM, and enterprise SSD capacity, which drove consumer memory prices sharply higher, with smartphone memory costs rising about 350% in a year. Over the same period, global semiconductor market monthly
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