Why laptops are getting more expensive.

And how to plan for it.

If you have priced up a laptop, a PC or a phone recently, you will have seen the figure is higher than it was a year ago. That is not a one-off, and it is not down to your supplier. It reflects a change in how the world’s memory is being shared out, and it is likely to shape technology budgets well into 2027 and beyond.

Nothing may be wrong with your current plans. But the cost of keeping devices fit for purpose has moved, and it helps to understand why before deciding what to do about it.

Where the pressure is coming from

Memory sits at the centre of it. Every laptop needs it, and so does every AI data centre. The accelerators made by Nvidia and others rely on high-bandwidth memory, so the main memory makers (Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron) have shifted capacity towards it, because that is where the demand is. The standard memory in everyday devices competes for what remains.

The BBC reported in January that the price of RAM had more than doubled since October 2025. Tech Insights told the BBC that memory typically accounts for 15% to 20% of a PC’s total cost, but that pricing at the time had pushed it towards 30% to 40%.

Since then, the effect has shown in the numbers. Gartner’s preliminary figures show worldwide PC shipments down 22.4% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, back to levels last seen in early 2023. Gartner analyst Namrata Banerjee said the impact of higher memory and storage costs is now “fully reflected in PC pricing”. In the second quarter, DRAM costs were five times higher than a year earlier, and vendors passed them on to buyers. Gartner says the fall was driven by higher prices, not surplus stock. Closer to home, Microsoft raised UK Surface prices by between £170 and £220, and the UK retailer Currys has said some cost price inflation would come through later this year.

Supply is unlikely to catch up quickly. New manufacturing capacity takes years to build. Micron expects 2027 and 2028 to be tighter than 2026. Samsung expects tight supply through 2028, and SK Hynix expects it to run to 2030.

Speaking on a podcast in October 2026, Sam Altman (OpenAI) described it as “quite terrible” for so much of the world’s scarce memory to sit largely idle in personal computers, arguing it would be better used in data centres. That drew considerable pushback. Whatever your view, one thread is worth taking from it: scarce resources should be used well. For an organisation, that is less about giving devices up and more about matching each one to the work it does, which we come back to below.

What it means in practice

The minimum specification for a work-ready device has moved up. Gartner reports vendors prioritising scarce components for higher-priced configurations, which leaves fewer lower-cost devices on the market, and for organisations planning refreshes over the next 12 to 24 months, budgets are unlikely to fall.

That doesn’t mean spending more everywhere. It means being more deliberate about where new devices are genuinely needed, and how long the ones you already have can serve well. Gartner’s latest figures point the same way, with organisations concentrating spending on targeted purchases such as workstations and AI PCs, not broad replacement across the whole estate.

Memory vs storage explained in simple terms

This is where confusion often creeps in. Both are built on memory chips, but they serve different purposes, and the recent conversation about scarcity is mostly about memory (RAM).

What is memory (RAM)?

Memory, also known as RAM, is what your device uses to actively run applications. It affects how quickly your laptop can open programs, switch between tasks and cope with multiple tools running at once.

More memory means:

• Smoother multitasking
• Faster performance under load
• Better handling of modern security and collaboration tools

Memory cannot always be upgraded later, so choosing the right amount upfront matters. Where it can be upgraded, doing so after deployment can add cost, downtime and compatibility issues. This matters more if a device is planned to stay in service for longer, because the specification you choose today needs to carry it comfortably through those extra years.

What is storage?

Storage is where your files live. Documents, emails, photos, and downloaded data all sit on storage.

More storage means:

• More space for files
• Better long-term capacity

Storage is less about performance and more about how many applications can be installed and files kept locally. As prices have risen, trimming storage can be a tempting way to save on device cost. But without enough capacity for applications and local files, it limits how the device can be used over time.

A helpful way to think about it is this:

Memory is your desk. Storage is your filing cabinet.

A bigger filing cabinet does not help if your desk is too small to work on. And a large desk is little use if the cabinet is too small to hold what you need.

Why cloud storage does not reduce memory requirements

A common assumption is that moving files to the cloud reduces the need for higher-spec devices.

Cloud storage is excellent for collaboration, backups and secure access to files. But it does not reduce the amount of memory your device needs to operate effectively.

Applications still run locally. Browsers, spreadsheets, video calls, security tools and line-of-business software all rely on memory to function smoothly. If a device does not have enough memory, performance issues will appear regardless of where files are stored.

This is why organisations sometimes invest heavily in cloud tools yet still experience slow or frustrating performance on older or lower-spec machines. Cloud storage supports modern working, but it does not replace the need for adequately specified hardware.

The hidden cost of under-specified devices

Choosing the cheapest available specification can feel like a saving at the time, but it often creates hidden costs later.

Under-specified devices typically lead to:

• Slower productivity
• More support tickets
• Shorter usable lifespans
• Earlier replacement cycles

Cheaper devices are also more likely to ship with home editions of operating systems, which may not be suitable for use in an organisation. This can result in additional licensing costs, upgrade work or limitations around security and device management once the device is in use.

Over time, these factors can cost more than buying the right specification upfront, even when the original purchase felt sensible.

Extending device life, on purpose

Keeping devices for longer can be a sound decision, if it is a deliberate one.

Many organisations end up stretching their devices simply because budgets are tight. That tends to leave some people with machines that struggle and others with machines that are barely used. Choosing where to extend and where to invest gives a better result, and usually a lower cost.

The starting point is how people actually work. Some roles genuinely need the power of a new device, such as those handling large files, running several demanding applications at once or working across complex data. Many others do not. When a newer, higher-specification device goes to a role that needs it, the capable machine it replaces can often be rebuilt and passed to a colleague whose work is lighter. A device specified and purchased for CAD (computer-aided design) work three years ago is comfortably capable of handling email, document and CRM management for another three. Only the devices that truly need replacing are replaced.

This is where good records matter. Every device we manage is registered, so we can see what is being kept up to date and maintained. We can also report on devices showing little or no use, which shows where capacity is sitting unused. Where we supply equipment, we keep a register of its specification. And because our support teams know the applications our clients rely on, we understand what each role needs, which means recommendations come from how their organisation works and not from a job title.

The aim is not to keep every device as long as possible. It is to keep each one for as long as it remains secure, supported and capable of doing the job, and to replace it only when it no longer can. That is why matching specification to need, redeploying where it makes sense and keeping devices well maintained all matter, because together they extend a device’s useful life. Done well, it is also a practical way to hold costs steady while the market remains under pressure.

Fewer requests for new devices, by design

When a laptop starts to struggle, a request for a replacement often arrives before anyone has asked why. Sometimes the device has genuinely reached the end of its useful life. Often something else is using up its capacity.

A well-managed environment tends to produce fewer of those requests, because the usual causes are dealt with before they are noticed.

The right applications, installed and maintained properly. Your organisation decides which applications it needs. What matters just as much is that they are installed correctly and looked after through the life of the device. Application conflicts and overlapping functions are no small thing for an organisation to manage, and either can waste resources and cause disruption.

Updates applied consistently. Devices that are kept up to date run more predictably and stay supported for longer, which matters if you plan to keep them.

Security that is built in and monitored. Protection that is properly configured does its job without becoming a drain, and unwanted software is less likely to slip in and slow things down.

Training and good process. People who know how to get the most from their systems tend to need less intervention. Training sits with the organisation, but we recommend it as part of good governance, process and security.

None of this removes the need for new devices, and it shouldn’t. What it does is make sure that when a request comes in, it is for a good reason. Each new device becomes a decision, not a reaction.

How we approach device lifecycles

Memory prices are outside anyone’s control. How prepared an organisation is when the next quote arrives is not.

For our clients, we advise on devices from specification through to end of life. Where we supply them, we set them up cleanly, keep a register of their specification and deal with warranties and manufacturer issues directly. Because we also look after our clients’ technology day to day, we know which applications each role depends on and where capacity is going unused. That means decisions about what to replace, what to keep and what to redeploy are made with the facts to hand, not under pressure. Sometimes the honest advice is that nothing needs replacing yet.

It works best as a partnership. The organisation decides what it needs and when. We bring the visibility and the practical knowledge to make those decisions easier, and the work to carry them out.

If you are weighing up your own device plans and would value a second view, we would be glad to talk it through.

What this means for budgeting and refresh planning

With memory costs expected to stay high, the most useful thing an organisation can do is plan ahead, so that fewer purchases are made in a hurry.

Rather than reacting when devices struggle, many organisations are now:

• Reviewing device lifecycles against how each device is actually used, not a fixed number of years
• Planning specifications around real usage, not job titles
• Redeploying capable devices before buying new ones
• Budgeting for gradual upgrades instead of one-off replacements

Factoring higher memory pricing into your technology budget helps avoid surprise costs and keeps devices usable throughout their lifecycle. That matters particularly if you are budgeting for 2027 and beyond, where baseline specifications are unlikely to come down.

When it is worth reviewing your device plans

It may be time to look again if:

• Devices are over three years old
• Staff regularly report slow performance
• Some devices are stretched while others are barely used
• You are planning growth or role changes
• You are building a budget for the next 12 to 24 months

A review does not mean replacing everything. It simply means understanding what you have, deciding what can carry on and planning ahead with clearer expectations.

Plan calmly, not reactively

Devices are getting more expensive because the world’s memory supply is under sustained pressure, and several of the major makers expect that to continue into 2028, even towards 2030. That is a cost we cannot prevent, and neither can you.

What can be shaped is how you meet it. By understanding memory and storage, matching devices to the work they do and getting more from what you already own, organisations can make better purchasing decisions and keep technology dependable without unexpected cost or disruption.

Written by Team CYAN

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Updated October 2026 (Based on an article published February 2026)