Rising Memory and CPU Costs Set to Push Notebook Prices 40% Higher by 2026

TrendForce projects that surging memory and CPU costs could drive the retail price of a mainstream $900 notebook up by nearly 40% by 2026. Manufacturers may implement these hikes to maintain current profit margins as DRAM, NAND flash, and processor prices climb.

Memory's share of total component costs is expected to double from approximately 15% to over 30% by the first quarter of 2026. This shift in memory pricing alone could necessitate a 30% increase in retail prices.

CPU costs are also rising, with Intel already increasing prices on certain entry-level chips by more than 15%. The combined cost share of memory and CPUs is forecast to grow from 45% to 58% of a notebook's total bill of materials.