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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchLaptop prices are under upward pressure because processors, DRAM memory and SSD storage have become a much larger share of manufacturing cost. In TrendForce’s benchmark for a US$900 mainstream notebook, CPU, DRAM and SSD accounted for about 45% of the bill of materials (BOM) in 1Q25 and about 68% in 3Q26. That is a benchmark, not a universal surcharge on every laptop, but it shows why a change in a few key components can affect the price, specification and availability of new PCs.
Manufacturers have four broad ways to respond: raise the retail price, accept lower margins, reduce specifications such as RAM or SSD capacity, or temporarily use inventory purchased at lower costs. Which combination you see depends on the model, price tier, brand, retailer, inventory timing and local market conditions.
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What “rising laptop prices” means
A laptop’s shelf price is not a direct readout of its component bill. The BOM covers physical parts and other manufacturing inputs, while the final price also reflects assembly, software, logistics, warranty costs, retailer margins, exchange rates, taxes, competition and demand. A higher BOM therefore creates pressure; it does not dictate a fixed percentage increase at checkout.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe available market evidence describes a risk of higher average selling prices and tighter product availability. It does not establish that every laptop has already become more expensive by the same amount, or that a particular model in a particular country has risen by a specific percentage. Prices can remain unchanged for a time when a manufacturer absorbs the increase or sells through older inventory.
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Why CPU, DRAM and SSD costs matter so much
The processor is the laptop’s main compute engine. DRAM is the working memory that holds active applications and data, while an SSD uses NAND flash to store the operating system, programs and files. These parts are central to performance and user experience, so they cannot simply be removed without changing what the product can do.
TrendForce’s figures show how their combined weight can change over time in one defined product segment:
| Period | Benchmark | Components counted | Share of BOM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Q25 | US$900 mainstream notebook | CPU, DRAM and SSD | About 45% |
| 3Q26 | US$900 mainstream notebook | CPU, DRAM and SSD | About 68% |
| 3Q26 | US$900 mainstream notebook, October 2026 TrendForce report | CPU, DRAM and SSD | Approximately 68% |
TrendForce reported the first comparison on September 4, 2026, and repeated the approximately 68% estimate in its October 8, 2026 report. The figures apply to that US$900 mainstream-notebook benchmark and those reporting periods. They should not be read as the component mix of every premium, budget, gaming or business laptop.
When these three inputs represent a larger share of BOM, a rise in their prices leaves an OEM with less room to keep the same retail price and margin. A small change in a low-cost accessory does not have the same effect as a change in a part that represents a large fraction of the build.
How AI demand tightens conventional memory supply
Memory suppliers allocate production capacity among consumer devices, enterprise equipment and AI infrastructure. IDC said on December 18, 2025, that demand from AI infrastructure was competing for memory capacity and that manufacturers had shifted some capacity toward higher-margin memory for AI and enterprise systems. That allocation can tighten supplies of conventional memory used in laptops, even when laptop demand itself has not suddenly increased.
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Less available supply can raise the price an OEM pays for DRAM. Similar pressure can affect SSDs when NAND flash supply, production decisions or demand change. The effect is transmitted through contracts and purchasing cycles, so a laptop assembled this month may reflect a different cost basis from an otherwise similar model assembled several months earlier.
IDC Vice President of Devices and Consumers Jean Philippe Bouchard said: “We’re not seeing any relief to the memory shortage situation before the end of 2027, which means prices will continue to rise and PC manufacturers will struggle to maintain full product portfolios for the foreseeable future.” This is a forward-looking assessment, not a guarantee that every configuration will be unavailable or that every price will rise continuously.
Four ways manufacturers can respond
Raise the retail price
The most visible response is to pass some or all of the higher BOM through to distributors and shoppers. This protects the manufacturer’s gross margin, but a higher price can reduce demand, especially in a crowded mainstream segment where buyers can postpone an upgrade or choose another model.
Absorb the increase in margin
A company can hold the advertised price and accept a smaller margin. This may preserve sales volume or a strategic price point, but it is difficult to sustain if component costs remain elevated. The choice also varies by product: a premium model with more margin may absorb costs more easily than an entry-level notebook.
Reduce the specification
An OEM can keep the headline price by shipping less RAM, a smaller SSD or another lower-cost configuration. IDC’s June 2, 2026 outlook identified reduced RAM or SSD capacities in some base configurations as a possible market-level effect. A specification cut is not proof that a particular laptop has been deliberately downgraded; compare the exact configuration and model number.
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Use lower-cost inventory temporarily
Manufacturers and retailers may have components or finished laptops bought before the latest increase. Selling that inventory can delay a price change. Once it is exhausted, a replacement batch with a higher cost may appear at a different price or with a different specification. This is one reason two retailers can show different prices for apparently similar laptops at the same time.
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What shoppers may actually notice
IDC’s June 2, 2026 forecast described three possible market effects: higher PC average selling prices, pressure on availability and lower RAM or SSD capacities in some base configurations. These are IDC’s forecasts as of that date, not final measurements for every country or model.
- A higher price for the same class of laptop: A replacement generation may launch above the previous generation even when the chassis and broad performance category look similar.
- A similar price with less capacity: A base model may include less memory or storage, while higher-capacity versions cost more.
- Fewer configurations in stock: Retailers may carry only the fastest-selling combinations while manufacturers manage constrained components.
- Uneven discounts: Older inventory can receive a substantial promotion while a newer, higher-cost batch remains near its launch price.
None of these observations supports a universal percentage increase. A component contract-price change is not the same thing as a shelf-price change, and the timing of each step differs.
Why the impact differs by laptop, brand and retailer
Entry-level laptops have little margin and often use modest memory and storage capacities, so a component increase can force a visible specification compromise. Premium systems cost more overall and may have more margin available to absorb part of the increase, but they can also use higher-end processors, faster memory or larger SSDs whose absolute prices are higher. Gaming, workstation and business lines follow their own demand and supply patterns.
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Design decisions matter as well. Some laptops have soldered RAM, making a lower factory capacity permanent; others provide an accessible memory slot. SSDs may be replaceable in one model and integrated or difficult to replace in another. A price comparison that ignores these details can make a superficially cheaper laptop the worse long-term value.
Retailers add another layer. One seller may be clearing older inventory, while another is listing a newer batch. Regional taxes, currency movements, shipping costs and warranty terms also change the final price. The evidence available here does not establish a single country-wide retail trend, so check the price and configuration in your own market.
A company-specific example: HP’s memory and storage estimate
Tom’s Guide reported on February 25, 2026, that HP CFO Karen Parkhill estimated memory and storage at roughly 15% to 18% of HP’s PC BOM in the prior quarter and roughly 35% for the year. Parkhill said: “We did share last quarter that memory and storage costs made up roughly 15 percent to 18 percent of our PC bill of materials, and we now currently estimate this to be roughly 35 percent for the year.”
This is a company-specific estimate for HP’s memory and storage share. It is not the same measurement as TrendForce’s combined CPU, DRAM and SSD share for a US$900 mainstream-notebook benchmark, and it should not be treated as an industry-wide percentage.
What the 2027 outlook does—and does not—predict
TrendForce’s October 2026 analysis said the main risk in 2027 could shift from whether components are available to whether consumers can absorb higher prices. Its current projection was a low-single-digit decline in notebook shipments, with a high-single-digit decline possible if manufacturers pass through costs more fully. Those are scenarios and forecasts, not observed shipment results.
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The practical implication is uncertainty rather than a guaranteed price path. If supply improves, competition strengthens or companies absorb more cost, retail pressure may ease. If memory remains constrained and prices are passed through, average prices and the range of available configurations may be less favorable.
How to compare laptops when component costs are moving
Compare the complete configuration, not just the product family name or processor branding. Use these checks before deciding that a laptop is cheaper or more expensive than another:
- Price and date: Record the exact current price, seller, currency and sale end date. A temporary clearance price may reflect older inventory.
- RAM capacity: Note the installed amount and whether it is upgradeable. Soldered memory cannot be expanded later, while a model with a slot may offer a cheaper upgrade path.
- SSD capacity and replaceability: Check the usable capacity, interface and whether the drive can be replaced. A nominally larger drive is not automatically faster or easier to upgrade.
- Processor tier and generation: Identify the exact processor model and generation rather than relying on a broad “Core,” “Ryzen” or “AI PC” label.
- Warranty and returns: Compare the included warranty length, service coverage and return window. A lower purchase price can be offset by weaker after-sales terms.
When two laptops are close in price, an upgradeable design can be more resilient to future capacity needs than one with permanently soldered, lower-capacity memory. Conversely, paying for a larger SSD or more RAM is worthwhile only if the workload needs it; capacity is one element of value, not a complete measure of performance.
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Should you buy now or wait?
There is no research-supported universal answer because the pressure is not synchronized across countries, models or retailers. Buying now can make sense when you find the required configuration at a price you can accept, especially if an older model is being cleared and its warranty and return terms are strong. Waiting may help if you can postpone the purchase and are willing to accept the possibility that a later model costs more or offers fewer base specifications.
Set the minimum configuration your work requires, then compare several models and sellers against that same list. Treat a low advertised price with caution if it hides less RAM, a smaller SSD, a weaker processor tier or shorter support. This approach separates a genuine bargain from a cost-saving specification change.
The bottom line
Laptop prices are rising because CPU, DRAM and SSD costs have become a larger part of notebook BOMs while AI and enterprise demand competes for memory capacity. Manufacturers can pass those costs on, absorb them, reduce specifications or use older inventory, so shoppers will see an uneven mix of higher prices, smaller capacities and availability changes rather than one fixed increase. The reliable comparison is the exact laptop configuration, its upgrade path, seller terms and current price—not a headline percentage applied to every notebook.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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