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CPU, DRAM and SSD together are estimated to make up about 68% of the bill of materials (BOM) for a benchmark mainstream notebook by Q3 2026, up from about 45% in Q1 2025. The comparison uses a model with a $900 suggested retail price in Q1 2025. These figures are TrendForce estimates as reported by Sina Finance, crediting IT Home; they describe the components’ share of the parts bill, not their share of the laptop’s $900 retail price.
What the 68% figure measures
A laptop’s bill of materials is the cost of its components. The reported 68% is the combined share attributed to the CPU, DRAM and SSD categories in TrendForce’s Q3 2026 estimate for the benchmark notebook. It is not a claim that those parts cost 68% of the retail price.
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The benchmark’s $900 figure is its suggested retail price in Q1 2025, not an absolute BOM total. The cited coverage does not state the total parts bill, so the 68% figure cannot be converted into a dollar amount by multiplying it by $900.
| Benchmark period | CPU, DRAM and SSD share of BOM | What is being compared |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | About 45% | TrendForce estimate for a mainstream notebook with a $900 suggested retail price in that period |
| Q3 2026 | About 68% | TrendForce estimate for the same benchmark comparison, as reported by Sina Finance/IT Home |
That is a rise of about 23 percentage points in the three categories’ share of BOM. The cited accounts attribute the shift to higher prices for CPU, DRAM and SSD components, but do not provide enough cost detail to calculate a specific dollar increase.
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Three choices laptop makers face
The options described in Wccftech’s account of TrendForce’s analysis prioritize different outcomes. They are trade-offs, not evidence that every manufacturer has taken the same action.
| Manufacturer response | What it prioritizes | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Raise retail prices | Recover some or all of the higher component costs | Buyers pay more, and higher prices could weaken demand |
| Absorb the added costs | Keep retail prices from rising as much | Gross margins come under pressure |
| Reduce specifications | Lower the cost of a product’s configuration | A less capable configuration may be less competitive |
Why the reported 80% price increase needs context
Sina Finance, crediting IT Home, also reports a TrendForce estimate that a comparable product would need a price increase of about 80% by Q3 2026 to preserve the gross margin of the Q1 2025 benchmark. This is a margin-preserving estimate for a reference product, not an observed increase in laptop prices across the market. It does not mean every laptop has become, or must become, 80% more expensive.
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The distinction matters: component costs, a manufacturer’s margin target, and the price a shopper sees are related but not interchangeable. A maker may instead accept a lower margin or alter the configuration, and the cited estimates do not specify how any particular brand or model will respond.
What TrendForce’s reported market outlook adds
Wccftech reports that TrendForce expects global notebook shipments to decline by a low single-digit percentage in 2027. If CPU and DRAM prices remain elevated, the forecast could instead reach a high-single-digit decline. These are forecasts, not recorded shipment outcomes.
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The same Wccftech account says production outside China was reported at 24% in 2025, is expected to be 21% in 2026, and could fall below 20%. The 2026 and below-20% figures are forecasts; they should not be read as confirmed production results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What shoppers can reasonably take from the estimate
The figures point to pressure on laptop makers, not to a guaranteed price change for a particular computer. Retail prices, margins and specifications are possible adjustment points, and the cited reporting does not identify specific models or establish how widely each response is being used. For a purchase decision, compare the price and installed specifications of the models available to you rather than treating the benchmark’s $900 price or the reported 80% estimate as a current price prediction.
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