Laptop Prices Projected to Rise Up to 35% Amid Memory and GPU Cost Increases

PC Market Outlook: Rising Component Costs to Drive Price Hikes and Affordability Concerns

The global PC market is bracing for a significant price increase, with 35% higher prices anticipated for laptops and desktops in 2026, driven by skyrocketing DDR RAM prices and a shortage of entry-level Intel processors.

Record PC Shipments in 2025

The Indian PC market recorded its strongest year in 2025, with 15.9 million units shipped, a 10.2% increase from the previous year. The market is expected to decline by up to 8% in 2026 due to higher prices and reduced affordability.

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Market Leaders and Shipment Growth

The top PC manufacturers in India are HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus, with all major players recording shipment growth in 2025. However, the industry is expected to feel the impact of rising component costs, with prices increasing by an additional 8-10% in March and a further 10% over the next few months.

Rising Costs and Affordability Concerns

The cost of components, particularly RAM, has increased by 2.5-3 times, pushing laptop and desktop prices up by 10-12% so far. Devices that earlier sold in the Rs 30,000-35,000 range are now closer to Rs 45,000, making upgrades harder for students, home users, and first-time buyers.

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Impact of Rising Costs on Demand

While advance buying by enterprises and small businesses may keep the market relatively stable in the first half of the year, IDC expects consumer demand to weaken as higher prices begin to discourage purchases. Overall, shipments of PCs and laptops could decline by the end of 2026, with a high single-digit decline year-on-year, roughly 7-8%, across both the consumer and commercial PC segments.

Global Cost Pressure and Industry Response

The cost pressure is being felt globally, with memory pricing being one of the biggest near-term cost risks for the PC industry. To soften the impact of rising costs, brands are adjusting product configurations, running promotional campaigns, and offering financing schemes to support demand.