Technology

Entry-level PC market to ‘disappear’ by 2028 — rising memory prices pile more strain on consumer PC market

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Mar 2, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

Rising memory prices are predicted to cause a 17% increase in PC prices by 2026, leading to a 10.4% decline in global PC shipments this year. The sub-$500 PC market is expected to vanish by 2028 due to a 130% surge in DRAM and SSD prices. Longer PC lifetimes are anticipated as prices rise, with a shift towards premium-tier devices to maintain profitability. Vendors are advised to focus on protecting margins rather than chasing budget buyers to navigate the impact of component inflation.

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