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MacBook Neo helps Apple weather Q3 PC slump
Apple’s shipment share rose to 9.8 % as global PC sales fell 21 % in Q3 2026, thanks in part to the new MacBook Neo.
23 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
Global PC shipments fell 21 % in the third quarter of 2026, according to a new Counterpoint Research report. The total market shrank to about 57 million units, a drop of 21 % from the same period a year earlier.
Lenovo remains the largest vendor with a 26.3 % share, despite a 23 % year‑over‑year decline. HP held second place with 18.1 % of the market, down 31 %, and Dell had a 13.3 % share, down 25 %. ASUS rounded out the top five with a 9.2 % share, down 7 % YoY. Apple’s share rose to 9.8 % from 8.7 % a year earlier, giving it the only vendor that increased its market position during the downturn. Both Apple and ASUS outperformed the broader market through differentiated product portfolios and competitive positioning.
MacBook Neo’s impact
Apple’s ability to outperform the broader market was credited to the new MacBook Neo, a thin and light laptop that entered the lineup in 2026. The Neo’s design and pricing were said to resonate with consumers still willing to upgrade, helping to cushion Apple’s overall decline.
Rising prices for memory and storage are cited as a key driver of the downturn. Counterpoint data showed 8GB DDR4 RAM prices jumped 24 % quarter‑over‑quarter in Q3 2026, while 1TB NVMe SSDs rose 29 %. Forecasts expect RAM prices to climb another 13 % in Q4 and 15 % in early 2027, with SSD prices increasing 11 % before stabilising.