As if PC hardware news couldn't get any gloomier, one research report suggests mainstream laptop prices could rise by as much as 40%

Even the most casual of PC users will surely know by now that the whole computer market is under considerable pressure from the global shortage of memory. But that's not the only component to experience price rises, and one research report suggests that the combined cost of CPUs, DRAM, and SSDs will climb so high that mainstream laptops could end up becoming 40% more expensive.

The report in question comes from TrendForce, which keeps a very close eye on all things PC component-related, and many of its reports of late have focused on the exponential rise in DRAM and NAND flash prices.

However, in this latest post, TrendForce notes that "Intel has already raised prices on certain entry-level and older-generation notebook CPUs by more than 15%, and is planning further price increases for mainstream and mid-to-high-end platforms in 2Q26."

This is important to note because "Under normal conditions, DRAM and SSD account for roughly 15% of a notebook’s BOM [bill of materials] cost. However, after several quarters of sharp increases in memory prices, that share is projected to exceed 30% in 1Q26."

So if everything does all increase in price, and it certainly looks like it will, then since "CPUs already represent one of the largest cost components in a notebook’s BOM, these increases will further drive up overall system costs. For a $900 notebook, if both memory and CPU prices rise, their combined share of BOM costs could climb from approximately 45% to around 58%.

PC gaming enthusiasts might, though, given we're already used to paying through the nose to support our painfully pricey hobby, but they could increase in price even further, if Nvidia decides to hike the price of its mobile GPUs.

So while it might seem that memory prices have plateaued of late, TrendForce is suggesting that its findings all point to it being nothing more than the calm before the storm. Let's just hope that its gloomy forecast turns out to be a considerably milder affair.

Best gaming laptop 2026

1. Best overall:
Razer Blade 16 (2025)

2. Best budget:
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10

3. Best 14-inch:
Razer Blade 14 (2025)

4. Best mid-range:
MSI Vector 16 HX AI

5. Best high-performance:
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10

6. Best 18-inch:
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