If a new laptop or desktop looks more expensive than it did last year, you are not imagining it. A global shortage of computer memory (RAM) is reshaping PC pricing in 2026, and research firm IDC says relief is unlikely before the end of 2027.
Emerald Computers put this guide together to explain what is actually driving the increase, how it is showing up in the market, and what local options still make sense in Peoria and Sun City, AZ. Pricing varies by manufacturer and configuration, so treat the figures below as the current market picture rather than a guarantee for every specific computer.
What Is Actually Causing the 2026 Price Increase?
Memory chip manufacturers have been shifting production capacity away from the everyday DRAM used in ordinary laptops and desktops, and toward the high-margin memory used to build AI data centers. That has tightened supply of conventional computer memory at the same time overall demand has kept climbing.
IDC now forecasts that global PC shipments could fall as much as 11.3% in 2026, with the decline potentially reaching 20% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, even as average selling prices rise. IDC projects PC average selling prices could climb roughly 17% in 2026, and expects pricing to stay elevated — unlikely to return to 2025 levels even as memory capacity gradually expands through 2027–2028.
In practical terms: some manufacturers are shipping fewer configurations, some have already announced price increases on specific models, and a few have started selling systems with less memory pre-installed than before. None of this means every computer costs the same amount more — the impact depends heavily on the brand, the model and how much memory it uses.
How Long Will This Last?
IDC’s research points to no meaningful relief before the end of 2027, and pricing is expected to stay above 2025 levels even after supply improves. That is a longer timeline than many shoppers expect, which is why waiting for a quick correction is a riskier bet than it might have been in a typical short-term shortage.
Two Ways Buyers Are Responding
With new-PC pricing and configurations less predictable, two trends are showing up among buyers and the industry that supplies them:
- Renewed interest in refurbished and secondhand computers, which already have memory installed at pre-shortage pricing. We cover this in detail in Should You Buy a Refurbished Computer in 2026?
- A partial return to older DDR4 memory platforms for budget-conscious builds, as motherboard and memory manufacturers restart DDR4 production to soften the impact of DDR5 pricing. We break down that trade-off in DDR4 vs. DDR5 in 2026.
What This Means If You’re Shopping in Peoria or Sun City
Because pricing and configurations are changing month to month, the most reliable way to know what a computer actually costs right now is to check current local inventory rather than relying on a price you saw online or remember from last year.
- Ask what memory and storage are actually installed before comparing prices between two computers
- Consider a tested used or refurbished system, which typically carries memory purchased before the shortage
- If you are building a gaming PC or custom system, ask whether a DDR4-based build meets your needs at a lower cost than DDR5
- If your current computer is otherwise healthy, ask about an upgrade before pricing out a full replacement
Emerald Computers can walk through current pricing and inventory for used and refurbished computers, computer upgrades, and custom-built systems at both our Peoria and Sun City locations.
2026 Computer Price FAQs
Why are computer prices going up in 2026?
A global memory (RAM) shortage is the main driver. Manufacturers have redirected production toward the memory used in AI data centers, tightening the supply of conventional DRAM used in everyday laptops and desktops. IDC forecasts PC average selling prices could rise roughly 17% in 2026 while shipments could fall as much as 11.3%.
How long will computer prices stay elevated?
IDC does not expect meaningful relief before the end of 2027, and pricing is expected to remain above 2025 levels even as memory capacity expands through 2027 and 2028.
Does every computer cost more in 2026?
No. The impact varies by manufacturer, model and how much memory a configuration uses. Some brands have announced specific price increases, while others are adjusting by shipping less memory pre-installed or narrowing available configurations rather than raising list prices uniformly.
What can I do instead of paying today’s new-computer prices?
Consider a tested used or refurbished computer, a DDR4-based build if you don’t need the newest platform, or upgrading your current computer instead of replacing it. Emerald Computers can walk through current options and pricing for each.
Talk to Emerald Computers Before You Buy
Prices and inventory are changing quickly in 2026. Before you pay today’s new-computer prices, call and ask what a comparable used, refurbished or DDR4-based system would cost.
Emerald Computers – Peoria
7642 W Vogel Ave, Building 3, Peoria, AZ 85345
Phone: 623-240-2424
Emerald Computers – Sun City
10001 W Bell Road, Suite 126, Sun City, AZ 85351
Phone: 623-223-7397
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