Memory shortages are now anticipated to pose significant constraints on laptop manufacturers, as a new report states that 8GB memory configurations will become increasingly common.
Memory Supply Constraints Are Now Reaching to an "Alarming Level" For Manufacturers, Forcing them to Raise Prices
We are now in a timeline where manufacturers are factoring in DRAM shortages and adjusting product prices to ensure they can sustain inventory levels and maintain profitability. Firms like Dell are reported to have been implementing price hikes amounting to 'hundreds of dollars', and it is expected that products with higher memory onboard will reach an 'absurd' level. According to TrendForce's estimate, the mid-range notebook segment, which currently accounts for the largest share of the market, is expected to feature the '8 GB RAM' specification more frequently, thereby ensuring a consistent supply chain.
We have already discussed the smartphone aspect of the report, but the notebook segment is also an important aspect to consider. TrendForce says that laptop shipments are shifting to an 8 GB configuration, as manufacturers are now factoring in "long-term adjustments", and it is forecasted that price fluctuations will become a lot more aggressive moving into Q2 2026. And since firms like Lenovo have previously relied on their extensive DRAM inventory, there were minor price increases on a wider scale this year; however, it appears that companies are now being forced to implement price hikes.
In 2025, Microsoft established a baseline RAM configuration of 16 GB for its Copilot-certified PCs. But now, reports suggest that we may be entering an era where developers will need to optimize their applications for optimal memory usage, as having higher RAM onboard could become increasingly challenging. Even now, companies like Dell have started to demand an additional $550 to upgrade from 16 GB to 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and manufacturers are now actually approaching the level of Apple when it comes to what they demand for RAM upgrades.
It would be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in 2026, but it is evident that the PC market needs to implement radical changes to meet supply chain demands.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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