"Memory shortages will likely stunt PC shipments in 2026, as available supplies will not be able to meet demand thanks to memory makers chasing the lucrative AI infrastructure market instead. Overall PC market performance in 2025 was healthy, according to research biz Omdia, but it notes that memory and storage supply was already tightening, with associated upward price pressure emerging around the middle of last year."
"By December, PC vendors were signaling their expectations of price increases, and this is dampening expectations for the volume of shipments during 2026. PC makers such as Dell and Lenovo were also warning in December of "unprecedented cost increases" that meant they were planning to up the price tags on their products. The alternative is to ship configurations with less memory, which risks disappointing buyers who may find that their PC's performance doesn't match expectations."
Memory shortages are expected to limit PC shipments in 2026 as manufacturers reallocate capacity toward high-margin server DRAM and HBM for AI infrastructure. Memory and storage supply tightened through 2025, producing upward price pressure by mid-year. Mainstream PC memory and storage costs rose substantially between Q1 and Q4 2025, with much of the increase passed to customers. By December, vendors anticipated higher prices and lowered shipment volume forecasts for 2026. Some PC makers warned of unprecedented cost increases and may ship lower-memory configurations, risking reduced performance for buyers. Vendors are prioritizing high-end SKUs and leaner mid- to low-tier configurations to protect margins, and shipment outcomes will hinge on procurement, negotiating leverage, scale, and supplier credibility.
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