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Budget Laptops Vanish as RAM Costs Surge
10 Mar
Summary
- DRAM demand will account for 50% of global memory by 2025.
- PC and smartphone makers scramble as memory chip prices rise.
- Laptop builders shift focus to higher-end models.
The PC industry is experiencing severe disruption as escalating DRAM prices, significantly fueled by the growing demand for AI compute, force manufacturers to raise costs. By 2025, DRAM is projected to consume 50% of the global memory market, leaving PC and smartphone makers scrambling for supply and driving prices up by 50-100%.
This situation has led major PC makers like Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Acer to announce or implement price increases ranging from 10% to 25%. Consequently, laptop builders are shifting their focus away from entry-level products. Instead, they are prioritizing higher-end commercial notebooks to improve revenue and better utilize the limited memory supply.
This strategic shift means budget-friendly laptops are becoming scarce. Apple, with its new MacBook Neo, is positioned to benefit from this market change, offering a more accessible option amidst the rising costs of PCs. Even Apple has seen price hikes on its higher-end MacBooks, with new models starting at higher price points.
