The PC market’s nine-quarter winning streak has officially crashed. Global shipments plummeted 4.9% as AI data centers hoard essential DRAM and NAND chips.

Manufacturers are prioritizing high-margin server hardware, forcing consumer prices to spike. With midrange laptops becoming unaffordable, buyers are hitting the brakes.

Lenovo remains king, but until new semiconductor capacity comes online, your next upgrade will cost you a premium.