Why Laptop and Desktop Prices Are Rising in 2026

Why are laptop and desktop prices rising in 2026?

Memory and storage costs have become the clearest pressure on the PC market. Gartner estimates that combined DRAM and solid-state-drive prices could be 130% higher by the end of 2026, contributing to a projected 17% increase in PC prices compared with 2025. [1]

IDC reaches a similar conclusion. It forecasts an 18.3% increase in PC average selling prices for 2026 and says no meaningful relief from the memory shortage is expected before the end of 2027. [2]

That does not mean every computer will cost exactly 17% to 18% more. The increase for a specific laptop or desktop depends on the manufacturer, configuration, warranty, market, contract, and purchase timing. Entry-level systems can be especially exposed because vendors have less margin available to absorb a large component-cost increase.

What is high-bandwidth memory, and is it the same as laptop RAM?

High-bandwidth memory is a specialized form of DRAM that is vertically stacked and placed close to an AI accelerator. It is designed to move enormous amounts of data quickly enough to keep high-performance processors working.

HBM is not the same memory module found in an ordinary laptop. Most business PCs use DDR5 or LPDDR memory and client solid-state drives. The connection is upstream: HBM and conventional DRAM rely on advanced memory production, while AI servers also consume large amounts of server DRAM and enterprise NAND storage.

How does AI memory demand reach ordinary PCs?

HBM is unusually manufacturing-intensive. Micron has said that HBM3E uses roughly three times as much silicon as DDR5 to produce the same number of bits. It expects the trade ratio to rise further with newer HBM generations, which constrains capacity available for non-HBM products. [3]

TrendForce reported in March 2026 that DRAM suppliers were reallocating capacity toward HBM and server applications. It also reported that NAND capacity was increasingly being allocated to enterprise SSDs while consumer applications were scaled back.

PC manufacturers with limited allocation may have to buy components at higher prices, reduce memory or storage specifications, or raise system prices. [4]

Is AI the only reason PC prices are rising?

No. AI is a major driver of memory-market tightness, but it is not the only factor behind any specific laptop or desktop quote.

Regional inflation and currency movements, product mix, newer platform requirements, higher baseline memory and storage, vendor strategy, support terms, and warranty coverage can all affect the final price.

The accurate conclusion is that AI infrastructure demand is intensifying an already interconnected component market—not that every price increase is caused solely by AI.

What do higher PC prices mean for businesses?

Businesses should expect larger refresh budgets, fewer genuinely low-cost choices, and less flexibility when a device must be replaced immediately.

Delaying replacement can create hidden costs

Older devices may require more support, experience more downtime, and create security or compatibility concerns. Gartner expects buyers to keep PCs longer as prices rise and warns that this can make older-device management more difficult. [1]

One-size-fits-all purchasing becomes more expensive

Buying a high-end configuration for every employee wastes budget, while under-specifying systems for accountants, engineers, designers, developers, analysts, and other power users can reduce productivity.

Emergency buying removes options

A failed computer forces the business to accept whatever is in stock, often without time to compare vendors, standardize configurations, plan deployment, or negotiate pricing.

How can businesses control technology refresh costs?

Businesses cannot control component pricing, but they can control demand planning, standardization, lifecycle decisions, and total cost of ownership.

Segment users by workload

Create practical profiles such as browser and line-of-business users, standard office users, mobile professionals, and power users.

Standardize a small number of approved configurations

Two to four well-defined options are easier to support and purchase than a different model for every employee.

Extend device life selectively

Keep healthy, supported systems in service when they still meet performance and security requirements. Do not apply the same extension to every device.

Plan replacements before failure

Use age, warranty status, hardware health, application requirements, and security support to create a rolling refresh schedule.

Evaluate thin clients and cloud desktops by full lifecycle cost

They can be effective for some workloads, but licensing, connectivity, support, security, and user experience must be included in the comparison.

Model the three-year cost, not only the purchase price

Include deployment, warranty, support, downtime, accessories, management, and replacement risk.

Forecast six to twelve months ahead

Request options early, maintain approved substitutes, and avoid assuming that a preferred configuration will remain available at the same price.

The goal is not simply to buy the cheapest computer. It is to put the right device in front of the right user for the right lifecycle—while controlling support cost, downtime, and risk.

Should a business buy PCs now or wait?

Do not base a refresh solely on a guess about component prices. Buy or commit early when devices are out of warranty, cannot meet current security or application requirements, are failing, or are already scheduled for replacement.

Waiting is more reasonable when the fleet is healthy, supported, and covered by a funded replacement plan.

IDC does not expect meaningful relief from the memory shortage before the end of 2027 and says PC pricing is unlikely to return quickly to 2025 levels even after capacity expands. That is a forecast rather than a guarantee, but it argues against planning on a rapid return to previous prices. [2]

IDC also describes the current market as a structural shift toward AI infrastructure demand, with manufacturers prioritizing advanced nodes and HBM while maintaining tighter supply discipline. [5]

What CNS DATA recommends

Begin with an inventory and workload map, then build a rolling refresh plan. A practical process looks like this:

1. Inventory the fleet

   Record device age, warranty, operating system, hardware health, employee role, and replacement risk.

2. Classify user workloads

   Separate basic, standard, mobile, and high-performance needs instead of buying one configuration for everyone.

3. Model the options

   Compare new PCs, selective life extension, thin clients, and cloud desktops using three-year total cost and operational risk.

4. Stage procurement and deployment

   Prioritize the highest-risk devices, keep approved substitutes, and schedule replacements before failures create emergency purchases.

At CNS DATA, we help organizations translate those decisions into a practical technology plan that fits the business, its users, and its budget.