RAM shortages have been driven by growing data-center demand fueled by the AI boom, squeezing memory and flash supply and pushing prices higher. In 2025, mainstream PC memory and storage costs rose by about 40 to 70 percent, according to Ben Yeh of Omdia, with increases eventually passed on to consumers.
Global PC shipments rose in 2025, with Omdia estimating 9.2% growth and IDC 9.6% growth, though analysts warn 2026 could be more volatile as vendors adjust pricing and memory configurations.
To manage the RAM crunch, manufacturers are expected to raise prices by 15-20% and lower memory specs on midrange machines to conserve stock, while Omdia’s Yeh foresees leaner mid- to low-tier configurations to protect margins.
IDC’s Jitesh Ubrani notes the shortages will last beyond 2026 and that vendors will likely prioritize midrange and premium systems to offset higher component costs, especially memory.
As RAM prices spike and AI PC marketing cools, the industry might shift away from on-device AI hype toward more practical considerations, with some brands pulling back on heavy AI-PC messaging until memory supplies improve and demand stabilizes.
