The PC components keep getting expensive, directly affecting the laptop costs, and could introduce a nearly 40% price hike.
TrendForce Forecasts 40% Price Hike for Mainstream Notebooks as Memory and CPU Availability and Pricing Worsen
While desktop memory prices seem to have somewhat stabilized in some parts of the world, we have seen a rapid surge in laptop memory costs. Coupled with the increasing prices of SSDs, we have been witnessing a significant rise in laptop prices, and it looks like it's about to get worse. According to a new report, the mainstream notebook prices can rise by nearly 40% if the current shortages continue, but this doesn't involve just RAM and SSD.
According to TrendForce, RAM and CPU are impacting the laptop costs, and while it predicts a nearly 30% price increase for a mainstream laptop costing $900 due to ongoing memory shortages, when the rise in CPU prices is taken into account, the overall price increase can reach as high as 40%. This staggering price increase is a result of a combined memory-CPU price hike, which usually has a BOM (Bill of Materials) of around 45%, which could rise up to 58%.
As for the impact of the RAM-SSD combination, it is much smaller than that of the RAM-CPU pairing. While the RAM+CPU+SSD accounts for nearly 45% of a notebook’s BOM cost, the RAM-SSD combo represents only around 15%. TrendForce says that notebook makers face uncertainty due to the price surge in these components as they try to plan their procurement strategies and manage overall BOM costs for upcoming laptop models.
The rise in notebook costs can be seen as early as Q1 2026, but this price hike may not stop after the current quarter ends. As Intel has reportedly increased prices for its entry-level and previous-gen CPUs by over 15%, the mainstream laptops are about to see more price hikes in the next quarter this year. All in all, it's not just the memory and SSD that have been causing troubles for the OEMs and customers; the CPU supply shortages and price hikes have started contributing to rising prices of PCs.
News Source: TrendForce
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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