Why are PC prices increasing in 2026?

PC prices are rising due to severe memory shortages, driving up costs for components like RAM and SSDs.

What is Lenovo's strategy for the PC memory shortage?

Lenovo has secured long-term vendor agreements and strategically stockpiled memory to manage the ongoing shortage.

Will future PCs be more powerful or rely on the cloud?

The future PC market is expected to split, with devices becoming either more powerful and premium or increasingly dependent on cloud computing.

Home / Technology / PC Market Split: Premium Power or Cloud Dependence?

PC Market Split: Premium Power or Cloud Dependence?

15 Jan

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Summary

PC shipments grew 10% year-over-year in 2025.
Memory shortages are driving up prices and reducing components.
Future PCs will likely be more premium or rely on cloud computing.

PC Market Split: Premium Power or Cloud Dependence?

The personal computer landscape is poised for a significant transformation, with future devices potentially polarizing into ultra-premium or cloud-dependent models. As of mid-January 2026, the market is grappling with severe memory shortages that have drastically escalated component costs, with RAM prices soaring over 500% in some instances. This scarcity is forcing manufacturers to consider reducing RAM in new PCs to offset ballooning expenses, a situation exacerbated by similar price hikes for solid-state drives.

Lenovo, the world's largest PC maker, has demonstrated resilience by securing long-term supply agreements and stockpiling memory in anticipation of the crisis, which is projected to persist through 2028. This strategic foresight, confirmed by commercial head Steve Long, has positioned Lenovo favorably amidst a market where major semiconductor firms are prioritizing AI data centers. Consequently, consumers may face a future divided between access to high-end local computing power and reliance on cloud services.