Late 2026, Expect Higher Cost and Lower Specs for PC Due to Memory Price Spike! TrendForce data shows that the 4Q26 PC DRAM contract price will increase 13%~18%. This is in line with the price hike in 3Q26. Such market dynamics would directly affect consumers' value perceptions when buying new desktops or laptops.
TrendForce warns of CPU downgrades and lower memory specs to cut costs
The rising component cost is already reflected in the hardware market. For example, in 3Q26, the worldwide shipments of laptops fell by 15.8%. Looking into 4Q26, this trend is expected to continue.
High cost and poor demand form a bad mix for the hardware market. It is challenging for hardware vendors to sustain their sales volume.
In response to the rising cost, PC vendors are changing the way they procure hardware and adjust their supply chain strategy. Currently, PC manufacturers are restocking their DRAM inventory. Furthermore, PC vendors are seeking to negotiate procurement contracts for 2027.
For cost reduction purposes, some vendors might downgrade their CPU cores. Some might even opt for lower spec memory modules to ensure they maintain the final product price.
Different from memory, the contract price growth for client SSDs is gradually slowing down to less than 5% in 4Q26. This is because the manufacturers are reducing their SSD orders. However, thanks to the demand in AI, the storage capacity utilization remains high. As a result, the price doesn't decline, even with the poor performance of PC sales.
Eighteen percent is brutal. I was waiting to replace my ten year old tower but this kills the budget.
They will just swap the CPU for a cheaper model with fewer cores. That is how they hide the real cost.