PC Prices Surge as Memory Costs Jump Over 200% Year-Over-Year

The cost of buying a PC in China has jumped sharply, making it harder for students and budget shoppers to find affordable machines. Memory and storage prices have surged, forcing OEMs like Dell and Lenovo to raise laptop prices by hundreds of yuan. This trend means buyers should expect to pay significantly more for the same hardware compared to last year.

Component manufacturers drive steep cost increases for buyers

The price hikes stem from component manufacturers raising costs across the board. Micron, Samsung, and SanDisk increased storage prices by 20% to 30% starting mid-last year. Memory costs have climbed over 200% year-over-year, creating a heavy burden for PC assemblers.

• Memory Price Increase: Over 200% year-over-year
• Storage Price Increase: 20% to 30%
• Laptop Price Increase: 500 to 1000 RMB
• 2026 PC Average Price Forecast: 4% to 8% increase

Intel and NVIDIA have also raised prices for consumer CPUs and GPUs in early 2026. PC makers responded by increasing laptop prices by 500 to 1000 RMB (around $148). Laptops under 5000 RMB (around $739) are now nearly impossible to find in the market.

Netizens have noted that new college students can barely afford computers this year. IDC forecasts that PC average prices will rise by 4% to 8% in 2026. The industry has gone through three rounds of price hikes in just one year.

This shift marks a clear break from the era of cheap entry-level PCs. Buyers should budget higher for basic systems as component costs remain elevated. The market has moved away from low-price competition toward higher average selling prices.