New 12 months, new ache: From telephones to laptops, every part goes to be dearer in 2026

Prices rise as a result of inflation is ever marching, generally slowly and sometimes briskly. But in 2026, there may be one other sort of worth rise coming for devices, together with smartphones and laptops. This is a worth improve introduced by part scarcity and it’s so extreme that tech corporations can be both pressured to scale back the capabilities of their machines, which isn’t a great choice, or considerably improve costs in 2026. It is already occurring however as we transfer deeper into 2026, it will choose tempo. All due to RAM.

The provide of RAM is operating so low that already Asus and Dell, main laptop computer makers, have introduced a worth hike of as much as 30 per cent on their 2026 lineup.

RAM is one part that’s on the coronary heart of a worth disaster going through the tech trade. From Microsoft to Samsung, from Lenovo to Asus, everyone seems to be frightened about it. Yet, there may be little or no they’ll do as a result of the world is out of the blue operating into RAM provides points. A significant factor in it’s AI and the AI corporations. Flushed with cash, they’re squeezing out conventional corporations out of RAM supply-chain. So a lot in order that different corporations may need to extend costs of their telephones and laptops by round 20 to 30 per cent in 2026 to remain worthwhile.

Matters of RAM

To perceive the problem, first we’ve to know the function RAM performs in a pc. And check out issues like HBM (excessive bandwidth reminiscence) and AI inference. RAM is a essential a part of a pc, whether or not giant or small. Everything that “computes” has random entry reminiscence (RAM) in it. That is as a result of it’s in RAM a pc retains information whereas it’s actively utilizing it. Example: your Chrome browser. While the applying lives on the laborious disk, when you open it and entry a web site, it strikes to RAM and stays there till you shut the tab and the browser. Similarly, players will need to have seen that “loading” display every time they open a sport. That loading is mainly information transferring to RAM from the laborious disk in order that the telephone or the pc can actively use the information.

Generally, extra RAM means higher total efficiency of a telephone or a pc. Everyone making a pc or telephone or pill or an identical gadget wants RAM, they usually want it at least expensive costs and most amount attainable. Once we transfer past fundamentals, there are several types of RAM. One which is inflicting all the issues these days is HBM.

HBM is a RAM constructed not for pace however for stamina resulting from its extraordinarily excessive bandwidth price. It can be very costly and till 2020 was majorly utilized in high-end graphics playing cards.

This modified quickly with the arrival of ChatGPT, Google Gemini and different AI instruments. These AI programs drink HBM the best way your neighbourhood bodybuilder gulps his protein shake.

The AI programs that energy ChatGPT and Gemini want as a lot HBM as corporations can provide them, and over time because the demand for AI has grown, it has additionally elevated the demand for HBM from corporations like Google and Nvidia which can be making key infrastructure for AI. At the identical time, with extra information centres coming on-line, demand for normal RAM has additionally jumped up at a clip tempo.

Until 2024, due to previous provide agreements, the costs had been nonetheless in examine. But as RAM-makers — and there are solely three massive ones and they’re Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron — enter into new provide agreements, they’re now demanding massive bucks from cash-rich AI corporations.

AI corporations are prepared to pay. But so tight is the provision that even they don’t seem to be getting HBM. At any worth. Recently, there was a report from Korea, which is a serious RAM manufacturing nation, that Google and Microsoft workers had been frantically circling workplaces of Samsung and others, hoping to finish contemporary provide agreements. They had been reportedly advised by their corporations to both get the provision offers or give up.

From telephones to laptops, every part costly in 2026

This brings us to the worth conundrum that’s going through telephones and laptops in 2026. RAM manufacturing is essentially achieved by three tech corporations. They have restricted capability and they’re chasing the most important margins, which at present are in manufacturing HBM that’s value its weight in gold. So, they don’t seem to be solely ramping up HBM manufacturing and costs, they’re additionally reducing down on manufacturing of normal DDR and GDDR RAM. These are the everyday RAM sticks that we will plug into laptops or desktops. They additionally are available in chip kind and are utilized by telephone makers inside their units.

The worth of this RAM is nearly 3X to 5X up in a single 12 months. Compared to its worth at first of 2025 by the tip of the 12 months it’s promoting at an astronomical margin. This is without doubt one of the explanation why lately OnePlus pointed on the worth of the OnePlus 15 and referred to as it an achievement for the corporate. It is priced at Rs 72,999 that, in line with the corporate, is only a marginal hike over the worth of the OnePlus 13 regardless of an enormous improve within the “component cost.”

But the best way issues are going, the Rs 72,999 might find yourself trying like a basement discount in 2026. Officially, the telephone corporations are staying mum. But because the launch season for laptops begins with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 6, the laptop-makers are speaking.

According to stories, Dell lately introduced a worth hike on its laptops for 2026 in a memo to its retail sellers. A report by Business Insider notes that the worth improve could be “between 10 per cent and 30 per cent.” A number of weeks earlier, Dell COO Jeff Clarke had highlighted rising part value. “We have not seen costs move at the rate that we’ve seen,” Clarke had mentioned. “Demand is way ahead of supply.”

Asus, meanwhile, is official with its price hike. In a letter to its partners in Korea, and as it was reported by Korean DigiTimes, Asus has squarely blamed RAM shortage as a reason behind price increase: “Structural volatility in the global supply chain is putting sustained upward pressure on costs for key components, particularly memory (DRAM) and storage components (NAND and SSD),” the company noted in its letter. “After carefully reviewing market conditions, supply stability, and our commitments to product quality, ASUS plans to implement strategic price adjustments for certain product combinations starting January 5, 2026.”

The company has not specified what sort of increase we can expect. But it is going to be in line with what Dell has done.

Asus and Dell are among the biggest computer makers in the world. If they are increasing the prices, it is safe to say that Lenovo, Acer and others would also follow with their own price hikes. Apple remains a dark horse in this aspect because the company, due to its size and weight, tends to have more long-term supply chain agreements. But chances are that Apple too will move prices upwards for its MacBooks depending on what sort of pressure its supply chain is feeling.

Should you buy a phone or laptop now?

If you need one, this will not be a bad idea. Get one now. Given the current crisis — and opportunity for some — in the RAM market, it is safe to say that from now onwards phone and laptop prices will increase throughout 2026. Possibly sometime after 2026, and maybe from around the middle of 2027, they will start to settle again as companies tweak and readjust their supply lines, but until then a price rise seems inevitable.

Beyond price increase there is a chance that fewer promotions and sales would hit the market in 2026, and whenever there will be some of these promotions, the deals will most likely be paltry. Surging RAM prices are going to squeeze everyone, including your pocket, hard. Chances are there won’t be much you will be able to do. The choice would be between paying more or settling for devices with less RAM and storage.

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