With AI Data Centers Scooping up RAM, Laptop Prices Could Spike in 2026

Manufacturers know you hate seeing a higher price tag. So, to keep the price steady, at least some of them may try a sneaky tactic: shrinkflation.

Avril Wu, senior research vice president at market research firm TrendForce, predicts that manufacturers will try to keep price hikes in check by quietly reducing the performance of their devices.

“Both approaches are likely to occur,” Wu says. “High-end models are more likely to see outright price increases while mid- to low-end models will more often adopt de-spec strategies to maintain price points.”

OpenBrand’s Bissett agrees, warning that manufacturers will try to “slide in” lower-specced models to hit familiar $599 and $799 price points. “It doesn’t even just have to be RAM,” Bissett says. “You could downgrade the screen. You could cut some corners or features elsewhere.”

In plain English? That $600 laptop you buy in 2026 might look identical to the 2025 model, but under the hood it may have a dimmer screen and 8GB of RAM instead of 16GB.

This pay-more-or-get-less reality is hitting smartphones just as hard. Counterpoint Research warned this week that while average smartphone selling prices will likely rise by 6.9 percent next year, the problem for budget-conscious shoppers is the degradation of the phone itself.

“In some models, we are seeing downgrades of components like camera modules, displays, and audio components,” Counterpoint senior analyst Shenghao Bai says in the report. Manufacturers could also drop lower-end devices from their lineup altogether in the face of rising costs.

For shoppers, this creates a double squeeze in 2026: The cheap phones are disappearing, and the midrange devices are getting worse cameras just to keep their prices from exploding.

If you are hoping prices will normalize by the time back-to-school sales roll around next summer, industry experts say you are making a risky bet. Here are some alternatives.

Buy Now (If You Can): “If you know you’re going to need a laptop next year, now’s the time,” OpenBrand’s Bissett says. The holiday season is likely the last time we will see aggressive discounting before the new pricing reality sets in for 2026.

Consider Buying An Older Model: If you can’t buy now and find yourself surrounded by higher prices next year, it may be smart to buy an older model (including refurbished options), whether that’s a laptop, phone, or any other device. Year-on-year improvements are typically not that significant, and many consumers don’t even notice the difference. For example, Walmart sells the 2020 M1 MacBook Air, which did very well in our tests and is still quite capable today, for $600; for $250 more, you can get the 2025 M4 MacBook Air if you want the latest and greatest. You might also consider the 2024 iPhone 16 ($700) or the 2025 iPhone 17 ($800), instead of waiting for next year’s new model. And if you’re more of an Android person, the Google Pixel 9a often dips below $400 during sales, and was $350 for Black Friday just a few weeks ago.

Shop Around: When prices do start to rise, they likely won’t rise everywhere at once. Large retailers often have stronger pricing contracts that allow them to hold the line on prices longer than smaller shops. If you see a price hike at one store, see what others are charging. Another major retailer might still be selling through its older, lower-priced inventory.