Major PC manufacturers, including Dell and Lenovo, are preparing to increase system prices by 15-20% in the coming weeks, according to recent reports from TrendForce. This price hike is driven primarily by a severe shortage of key components, most notably RAM and SSD storage, as demand surges from the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
The AI Factor
The current supply squeeze isn’t just another pandemic-era ripple effect; it’s directly tied to the massive investment pouring into AI infrastructure. Billions of dollars are being funneled into building out data centers, which require huge quantities of high-performance RAM and storage. This has created intense competition for these components, leaving traditional PC manufacturing scrambling for limited supply.
Delayed Price Schedules
Lenovo has already informed clients that its system price schedule will be reset on January 1, 2026, effectively locking in higher prices for the foreseeable future. Dell plans to implement price increases of at least 15-20% as early as mid-December. This timing is particularly unfortunate, as PC manufacturers typically unveil new product lines at CES in January, which are then shipped in the first half of the year.
Ripple Effects Across the Industry
The shortages aren’t just impacting PC brands like Dell and Lenovo. Component manufacturers such as Intel and AMD will also feel the pressure, as their own production relies on the availability of these same constrained materials. The situation underscores how interconnected the tech supply chain is, where a single bottleneck can have cascading consequences.
This price increase is a direct result of the AI boom reshaping the semiconductor landscape. The demand for specialized hardware is now outpacing supply, forcing manufacturers to pass those costs on to consumers.
