class="wp-singular news-template-default single single-news postid-8381 wp-custom-logo wp-theme-microwarehouse tribe-no-js">
Why Laptop & Tablet Prices Are Set to Rise in 2026 and What You Can Do
Over the past 12–18 months, hardware pricing has undergone a significant price increase. Graphics cards, CPUs, and other core components have all moved up in price, and now memory is following the same trajectory. RAM pricing has risen sharply since late 2025, and because RAM sits inside almost every device (from your smartphone to your smart TV), those increases push up the cost of laptops and tablets across the board. For partners waiting for prices to stabilise or fall, the risk is simple: the next buying window is likely to be more expensive than the current one.
According to IDC, price hikes might be bigger for PCs. Not only memory supply is tighter, but devices themselves are requiring higher specifications. Windows 11 requirements, the move away from Windows 10, and the push towards AI-ready PCs all mean more RAM and faster storage are becoming the baseline, not the upgrade. Copilot+ PCs, for example, mandate at least 16GB of RAM, with higher-end systems often doubling that.
Vendors like Lenovo, Dell and Acer have warned of 13-15% price increases. In simple terms, a standard business laptop with 16GB of RAM could cost €30–€40 more to manufacture in 2026 than it does today. As workloads continue to evolve —from collaboration tools and virtualisation to AI features and data-heavy applications — memory and storage play a much bigger role in everyday performance. For MSPs and retailers, that means device specifications will have a direct and growing impact on pricing, availability, and how long devices remain fit for purpose.
Why RAM & SSD Pricing Is Changing
More DRAM and NAND capacity is being pulled into enterprise and AI use cases, which leaves less flexibility in the commercial space. As a result, the old assumption that memory would naturally get cheaper year after year doesn’t really hold anymore and that’s beginning to show in laptop and tablet configurations across the channel.
Recent reporting from sources like Tom’s Hardware and IDC suggests that rising memory costs are already feeding into PC pricing forecasts for 2026. For mainstream business devices, this often means tighter margins and fewer aggressive promotions. That’s especially relevant for the configurations most SMB customers depend on day to day; typically devices with 16GB or 32GB of RAM and SSD storage sized for modern workloads.
What This Means for MSPs & Retail Resellers
For MSPs, this matters because many customers are holding onto devices for longer. A laptop that’s specified with entry-level memory today may feel fine initially, but it can start to struggle two or three years down the line, leading to more support tickets and earlier-than-planned replacements.
For retailers, it’s a similar story. Lower-spec devices can look attractive on price at the start, but they often lead to unhappy customers later when performance doesn’t keep up with expectations.
Because of this, more partners are now treating RAM and SSD capacity as essential parts of a business-ready device, rather than optional upgrades. Getting the specification right from day one helps devices last longer, perform better, and deliver a more predictable total cost of ownership particularly in a market where component prices aren’t expected to soften any time soon.
At MicroWarehouse, we work closely with partners to supply business laptops and tablets in configurations designed for real-world commercial use, including options with higher RAM and SSD capacity. Whether you’re supporting SMB refresh projects, managed services customers, or retail business buyers, having the right device specifications upfront makes it easier to quote with confidence and avoid surprises later.
Explore business laptops and tablets with the right RAM and SSD specifications on the MicroWarehouse Store. Visit: https://store.mwh.ie.
Not sure which configuration is right for your customers?
Our team can help you choose laptops and tablets based on performance needs, lifecycle planning, and budget. Just reach out to your MicroWarehouse account manager.