Laptop Market Update: Prices Rise as AI Drives Memory Shortages

September 10, 2026

The global laptop market is facing rising prices as strong demand for AI technology puts pressure on the supply of memory chips.

PC shipments have declined, while major manufacturers are focusing more on premium and AI-powered laptops. Industry analysts expect memory shortages and higher component costs to continue affecting laptop prices. {“fallbackMarkdown”:”(The Wall Street Journal)”,”reference”:{“matched_text”:””,”prefix”:null,”start_idx”:599,”end_idx”:628,”safe_urls”:[“https://www.ft.com/content/ea9a9dcc-b1df-49b0-b80c-f320161b9efa”,”https://www.ft.com/content/ea9a9dcc-b1df-49b0-b80c-f320161b9efa?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”https://www.wsj.com/tech/computer-makers-are-selling-fewer-pcs-at-higher-prices-so-far-its-working-af3b4202″,”https://www.wsj.com/tech/computer-makers-are-selling-fewer-pcs-at-higher-prices-so-far-its-working-af3b4202?utm_source=chatgpt.com”],”refs”:[],”alt”:”(The Wall Street Journal)”,”prompt_text”:null,”type”:”grouped_webpages”,”status”:”done”,”style”:null,”items”:[{“title”:”Computer Makers Are Selling Fewer PCs at Higher Prices. So Far, It’s Working”,”url”:”https://www.wsj.com/tech/computer-makers-are-selling-fewer-pcs-at-higher-prices-so-far-its-working-af3b4202?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”attribution”:”The Wall Street Journal”,”pub_date”:1788541080,”snippet”:”Computer manufacturers are adapting to a significant shift in the market driven by a global shortage of memory chips, largely due to the expansive development of artificial-intelligence infrastructure. This shortage has pushed PC makers to prioritize producing fewer, more expensive units, especially premium “AI PCs” optimized for on-device AI workloads. Despite a 4.9% drop in worldwide PC shipments in Q2, revenue has risen for major companies—HP saw an 18% increase in PC revenue despite a 16% decrease in units sold, while Dell and Lenovo experienced revenue growth of 20% and nearly 30% respectively. This strategy hinges on higher profit margins from premium devices, particularly in the commercial sector, which accounts for roughly 75% of market volume. However, the consumer market remains more price-sensitive, creating challenges for future sales. Analysts suggest the memory chip shortage—and consequently higher PC prices—will persist until at least 2028, after which prices may begin to decline but not to 2025 levels. For consumers, the best prices may already be in the past.”,”thumbnail_url”:”https://images.wsj.net/im-25528110?size=1.5&resize=500″,”attribution_segments”:null,”supporting_websites”:[{“title”:”‘RAMageddon’ hits consumer electronics as AI drains chip supply”,”url”:”https://www.ft.com/content/ea9a9dcc-b1df-49b0-b80c-f320161b9efa?utm_source=chatgpt.com”,”pub_date”:null,”snippet”:”The booming demand for AI has triggered a global shortage in dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and other semiconductor components, leading to significant price hikes in consumer electronics. Known informally as “RAMageddon,” the shortage is pushing up costs for smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and more—reversing decades of falling prices due to technological progress. As hyperscalers prioritize high-bandwidth memory for AI over consumer-grade chips, traditional electronics manufacturers are facing supply constraints and rising costs, with DRAM prices increasing fivefold over the past year. Major companies like Apple and Nintendo have already raised prices, with the latter citing a ¥100bn surge in component costs. Electronics makers are redesigning products, lowering specs, or slowing production to manage shortages. Retailers like Currys warn that price increases are inevitable, while analysts expect consumers to buy fewer new devices and keep current ones longer. The semiconductor industry is expanding production capacity, but new chip plants will take years to come online. Analysts believe the high cost of consumer electronics will persist through at least 2027, as the AI-driven supercycle continues to strain global chip supplies.”,”attribution”:”Financial Times”}],”refs”:[{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”news”,”ref_index”:11},{“turn_index”:0,”ref_type”:”news”,”ref_index”:2}],”hue”:null,”attributions”:null}],”error”:null,”fallback_items”:null},”showLoginRequiredCard”:false}

At the same time, demand for high-performance laptops, especially gaming and AI-capable models, remains strong.

Market outlook: Consumers should expect higher prices, particularly for laptops with larger RAM capacities, while AI-powered laptops are expected to become increasingly common.