The MacBook Neo Is Quietly Saving Apple From the Great PC Slump of 2026

Apple gained a larger share of the overall worldwide PC shipments during the calendar third quarter of 2026, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research. The global market research firm credits the MacBook Neo for at least some of the company’s continued outperformance in the face of a PC market downturn.

Counterpoint’s preliminary estimates show Apple shipped 5.6 million units during the quarter, an 11% slide from the same quarter the year before. Those numbers still allowed it to outperform the rest of the global PC market, as while worldwide PC shipments fell 21% to 57 million units, Apple’s market share increased from 8.7% to 9.8%. That was partially thanks to Apple’s lowest-priced laptop, the MacBook Neo.

Five companies accounted for 76.7% of global PC shipments. Other vendors shipped 13.3 million units, down 16% year over year.

Those top five vendors were as follows:

1. Lenovo maintained its hold on the top spot with 15 million units shipped, good for a 26.3% market share, although it saw a 23% year-over-year decline in shipments.
2. HP stayed in second place, shipping 10.3 million units for an 18.1% share. It saw its shipments fall 31% year over year, which was the largest decline among the top six PC vendors.
3. Dell had shipments of 7.6 million units, down 25% year over year, and a 13.3% market share, which was good enough for third place. Counterpoint says its decline shows that even relatively resilient commercial demand could not fully shield Dell and other vendors from a broader downturn in the industry.
4. Apple saw its shipments decline 11% year over year, shipping 5.6 million units, good for a 9.8% market share, up from 8.7% a year earlier. As mentioned above, Counterpoint credits the MacBook Neo with helping to cushion the blow and allowing Apple to outperform the overall PC market.
5. ASUS rounded out the top five with 5.2 million units shipped, down 7% year over year but up 19.4% over the prior quarter. Those numbers were good for the smallest annual decline among the top five PC vendors, with ASUS increasing its market share to 9.2% from 7.8% a year earlier.

The report reiterates what most of us already know: rising component costs are making new computers a pricier consideration, spurring customers to hold off on making a purchase. AI data centers continue to put a heavy demand on memory, storage, and other components, which has led to the precipitous hike in prices. While businesses buying fleet replacements helped a bit, as did Windows migration, neither was sufficient to prevent the fall in overall PC shipment numbers.

Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang noted, “The global PC market is facing mounting pressure as rising memory and component costs push system prices higher and force consumers to delay replacement purchases. While commercial refresh cycles and Windows migration continue to provide some support, they are no longer enough to offset weakening demand. Apple and ASUS have demonstrated greater resilience, outperforming the broader market through differentiated product portfolios and competitive positioning. However, with affordability becoming an increasingly critical purchasing factor, even market leaders are struggling to maintain shipment momentum.”

As noted by MacTrast, Apple has not been immune to price hikes for its products, as the MacBook lineup’s pricing has increased over the last year. The MacBook Neo, which debuted in March at $599 for the base model, now carries a base price of $699. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro also debuted in March at $2,199, while the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro started at $2,699. Those models now sell for $2,499 and $2,999, respectively.

Counterpoint expects global PC shipments to decrease 27% year over year during the fourth quarter, and its forecast for 2027 indicates shipments will remain flat from the 2026 numbers.

Associate Director David Naranjo said, “The PC industry is entering a period of structural adjustment, where rising component costs, higher system prices and longer replacement cycles are fundamentally reshaping market dynamics. OEMs face a difficult balancing act between protecting margins and maintaining affordability, particularly as consumer demand continues to deteriorate. With global shipments expected to plunge 27% in Q4 2026 and remain broadly flat in 2027, stabilization should not be mistaken for recovery. AI PCs, premium displays and differentiated products will create opportunities, but the winners will be those that combine innovation with competitive pricing, supply-chain discipline and compelling value for consumers and businesses.”