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TrendForce reports laptop prices may rise 40% due to surging memory and CPU costs
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 01:53 AM
TrendForce reports that laptop prices in the $900 range may increase by 40% due to rising costs of memory and CPU components. Memory price hikes are expected to contribute a 30% increase to retail prices, while CPU costs add another 10%, with supply constraints hitting low-end models most severely.
Context
A major shift in the semiconductor supply chain is projected to drive laptop prices up by nearly 40% in 2026. According to TrendForce, a mainstream notebook with a $900 MSRP could see retail prices soar as surging memory and CPU costs drastically alter bill-of-materials (BOM) structures. Memory prices alone are expected to contribute a 30% price hike, while Intel's reported price increases of over 15% on entry-level and older-generation CPUs add another 10% to the final retail cost.
This inflationary trend stems from a structural reshuffle where manufacturers like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory for AI servers over commodity DRAM and NAND. Consequently, the combined BOM share for memory and CPUs is forecasted to jump from 45% to 58%. While hardware giants like Dell Technologies and HP Inc. are navigating these shortages by adjusting pricing strategies, the volatility is expected to hit low-end platforms hardest, potentially tightening consumer demand throughout the year.
Sources (7)
Dell Technologies Delivers Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2026 Results | Dell TechnologiesAs AI Eats Up The World's Chips, Memory Prices Take The ...Dell stock soars on earnings beat as company navigates memory shortageMemory crunch piles pressure on HP, Dell and other PC makers to ...Press Center - TrendForceInside RAMaggedon: Why Laptop Prices Will Continue to Surge in 2026 | PCMagDell's stock soars, as record earnings signal the company is managing memory shortages well | Morningstar
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