The 2026 Laptop Memory Crunch 

Howdy, Lisa Andrews

Key Takeaways

• Memory chip prices rose sharply from late 2025 into 2026 as AI data centers absorbed a huge share of global DRAM and NAND production.
• Laptop makers have responded with price increases, trimmed base configurations, and in some cases reduced promotions on high-RAM models.
• The squeeze is awkward timing: operating systems and apps now want more RAM for on-device AI, just as RAM costs more.
• Buyers who need a laptop soon should prioritize RAM at purchase time, since most thin laptops use soldered memory that cannot be upgraded later.

What Happened to Memory Prices?

For most of the last decade, memory was one of the most cyclical commodities in tech: gluts followed by shortages, with prices swinging accordingly. After a weak 2023, the market recovered through 2024 and 2025. Then AI changed the shape of demand.

Building out AI infrastructure requires enormous quantities of memory. High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), stacked DRAM used alongside AI accelerators, is made on the same fabrication lines and with the same wafers that would otherwise produce conventional DRAM, and it consumes considerably more wafer capacity per bit. The big three DRAM makers, Samsung, SK hynix and Micron, shifted capacity and investment toward HBM and server memory, where margins are highest. Conventional DDR5 and LPDDR5X, the memory used in PCs and laptops, became tighter as a result.

NAND flash, which powers SSDs, followed a similar pattern as data centers bought large amounts of enterprise SSD capacity for AI training data and inference. Industry reports from late 2025 onward described contract prices for both DRAM and NAND rising steeply, and in a notable sign of the times, Micron announced it would wind down its Crucial consumer memory and SSD business to focus on higher-demand segments.

Why Laptops Are Especially Exposed

Laptops are a thin-margin business, and memory is one of the largest line items in the bill of materials after the processor, display and battery. Three factors make the squeeze particularly painful:

1. Soldered and on-package memory. Most thin-and-light laptops use LPDDR5X soldered to the board or placed on the processor package (as in Intel’s Lunar Lake and Apple’s M-series). Makers must buy the memory up front and cannot pass the choice to buyers as an aftermarket upgrade.
2. Rising baseline requirements. Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC standard requires 16GB of RAM, and local AI features push demand higher. A laptop with 8GB is increasingly unattractive, yet 16GB costs the manufacturer noticeably more than it did a year ago.
3. Competition with data centers for supply. PC makers are negotiating for supply against hyperscalers with deep pockets and long-term contracts, which gives big buyers priority and leaves smaller brands scrambling.

How It Shows Up in Laptop Prices and Specs

Buyers in 2026 may notice several changes:

• Higher sticker prices, particularly for models with 32GB or more of RAM and large SSDs.
• Costlier upgrade tiers. The price gap between 16GB and 32GB configurations has widened on many models.
• Fewer deep discounts on well-specced laptops during sales events.
• Trimmed budget configurations, with some entry-level models sticking to 8GB or smaller SSDs to hit a price point.
• Longer lead times on specific configurations.

Analysts have widely forecast that PC prices would rise in 2026 as component costs filter through, and shipment forecasts have been cautious because of it. Exact figures vary by brand and region, so check current listings rather than relying on averages.

The Awkward Collision with AI Laptops

The timing could hardly be worse. As covered in our companion article on AI laptops, the 2026 chip generation from Intel, AMD, Qualcomm and Apple is built around on-device AI. Running local language models, image tools and always-on assistants is memory-hungry. A model’s size in memory, plus the operating system and your usual apps, quickly eats through 16GB.

So the industry is in an uncomfortable position: it wants to sell the idea that more AI belongs on your laptop, while the component that makes that practical is in short supply and getting more expensive.

How Much RAM Do You Actually Need in 2026?

Storage: The Quieter Squeeze

SSD prices have risen too, though the effect on laptops is less dramatic than for RAM because many buyers are content with 512GB or 1TB. If you need large capacity, an external NVMe drive is usually cheaper than paying a laptop maker’s upgrade price. Check whether your laptop has a spare M.2 slot, as upgradeable storage is one of the few remaining ways to save money.

Buying Advice: What to Do Now

1. Buy RAM now, not later. If memory is soldered, you cannot add it afterwards. Pay for the 16GB or 32GB you will need in three years.
2. Consider upgradeable laptops. Models with SO-DIMM slots, such as some business laptops and repairability-focused designs like Framework’s, let you buy RAM separately and upgrade when prices fall.
3. Compare total cost, not headline price. A cheaper laptop with 8GB and a small SSD often costs more over its lifetime.
4. Watch for refurbished and previous-generation models, which can offer good value with decent RAM.
5. Do not panic-buy. If your current laptop works fine, waiting is reasonable, since memory markets historically cycle back as new capacity comes online.

When Will Prices Come Down?

Memory makers have announced expanded investment, and new fabrication capacity is under construction, but new fabs take years to reach volume production. Most industry commentary pointed to tightness continuing through 2026 and possibly into 2027, with relief depending on how long AI spending stays at its current pace. Treat any specific timeline with caution: this market is notoriously hard to predict, and a slowdown in AI investment could flip it quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are RAM prices going up in 2026? AI data centers are consuming huge amounts of DRAM and HBM, and memory makers have shifted production toward those higher-margin products, tightening supply for PCs and laptops.

Will laptop prices keep rising? Many analysts expected increases through 2026, but the size varies by brand and configuration. Check current prices for the specific model you want.

Is 8GB of RAM enough in 2026? For very light use it works, but it is a poor choice for anything beyond basic tasks and falls below the Copilot+ PC requirement.

Can I upgrade laptop RAM? Only on models with SO-DIMM slots. Most thin-and-light laptops and all current MacBooks have soldered memory.

Should I buy a laptop now or wait? Buy now if you need one, and spend on RAM. Wait if your current laptop is fine and you can tolerate uncertainty about when prices ease.

Bottom Line

The 2026 memory crunch is a reminder that laptop pricing is tied to forces far outside the PC industry. Until supply catches up with AI-driven demand, expect higher prices and tighter configurations. The smartest move for buyers is to put their money into RAM, avoid underspecced bargains, and choose upgradeable designs where possible.

The smartest move for buyers is to put their money into RAM, avoid underspecced bargains, and choose upgradeable or future-proofed configurations.