The memory chip crisis, fueled by AI demand, caused PC shipments to fall 5 percent in Q2 2026, marking the first decline after nine quarters of growth. IDC projects the memory shortage will not ease until early 2028, with vendors bracing for further price hikes into 2027. Larger players like Lenovo, Apple, Dell, and HP are leveraging their scale to secure supply, potentially forcing smaller competitors into mergers or exits.
AI-driven memory demand is creating a multi-year supply constraint, driving consolidation among PC vendors and increasing component costs for the broader market.