PC buyers warned of possible price hikes in 2026 as memory shortages loom

Buying or building a new PC next year could become more expensive. New forecasts from IDC suggest 2026 may see noticeable price increases across the PC industry, driven largely by a renewed shortage of memory components.

At the center of the issue is what analysts describe as a new “memory supercycle.” Demand for DRAM and related components is rising sharply, fueled by AI servers, AI-capable PCs, and a wave of upgrades linked to Windows 10 reaching end of support. Supply, however, is struggling to keep up.

As per industry signals cited by IDC, memory prices have already been climbing, and further increases appear likely. Graphics cards, smartphones, and even gaming handhelds are all expected to suffer from this ongoing memory shortage and price hike.

Several major PC makers, including Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer, and ASUS, have also reportedly warned of tougher market conditions. Some suppliers are said to be preparing price increases of around 15–20% from the second half of 2026, alongside revised supply contracts.

IDC expects global PC shipments to fall by about 4.9% in 2026. The decline could be steeper if memory shortages worsen. Larger OEMs may be better positioned, as they can leverage their scale to offer competitive, pre-built systems. Custom PC builders, by contrast, are likely to feel the impact more directly, with higher prices for individual components.

The situation could also affect the rollout of so-called AI PCs. Many AI features, including Microsoft’s Copilot+ requirements, depend on higher memory configurations. With supplies tight, some manufacturers may scale back the memory size.

With memory production increasingly focused on higher-margin AI servers, consumers may end up paying the price. For buyers considering an upgrade, earlier may be cheaper.

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(Source: IDC)