2026 PC Memory Price Hike: Why AI is Making Laptops More Expensive
A global memory shortage is fueling a 2026 PC memory price hike. Companies like Framework and Samsung are raising DDR5 prices, impacting laptops and smartphones.
The AI boom just sent your next laptop’s price tag soaring. It's now certain that device prices will climb even higher in 2026, driven by a global memory shortage that shows no signs of letting up.
The 2026 PC Memory Price Hike Crisis
Modular PC maker Framework recently announced another significant price hike for its DDR5 RAM components. The company stated it's charging customers as close as possible to the actual purchase prices from suppliers, which has reached roughly $10 per gigabyte.
- 8GB Option: Increased from $60 to $80
- 16GB Option: Increased from $120 to $160
- 48GB Option: Skyrocketed from $240 to $620
Samsung and Major OEMs Sound the Alarm
This isn't an isolated incident. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Samsung warned manufacturing partners it was doubling prices on DDR5 RAM. Industry giants like Lenovo, Dell, and HP have all issued warnings about looming price increases in the coming year.
All indications we’ve received from suppliers is that prices will continue to increase going into early 2026. We have absorbed some of the price increases, but it is very likely we’ll need to adjust module prices again within the next month.
The shortage, fueled by the relentless demand for AI hardware, is expected to affect the global supply chain well into 2027. For consumers, these memory-related hikes come on top of previous inflation and tariff-related increases from earlier in 2025, making new hardware more expensive than ever.
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