Soaring RAM prices are reshaping laptop choices — how to save in 2026

RAM prices have surged recently, forcing buyers to rethink how they shop for laptops, ZDNET reports. According to PCPartPicker, the average price of a 2x32GB DDR5-6000 kit reached nearly $800 in December 2025 — higher than Sony's PS5 Pro at $749 — and the article says RAM could rise another 50% in Q1 2026.

Acer's official blog attributes the shortage largely to the rise of AI, and also cites manufacturing challenges, growing hardware demands, and a decline in DDR4 production. Industry analysts at TrendForce say notebook shipments are shifting toward lower-tier 8GB models to stabilise supply chains, meaning machines that once shipped with 16GB may soon come with less memory.

ZDNET recommends several ways to save: buy refurbished PCs (BackMarket listings include ThinkPads under $300, an M3 MacBook Air around $693, and Chromebooks under $100), monitor major seasonal sales, target systems that use DDR4 or buy DDR4 sticks, and consider RAM-and-motherboard bundles for custom desktops (for example, a TeamGroup combo priced around $230).

The piece also suggests switching to ChromeOS for lightweight cloud-based use or to Linux distributions such as Ubuntu or Q4OS to get more life from older hardware. High RAM prices are expected to persist throughout the year, the article says, so these strategies are presented as starting points rather than firm rules.

Key Topics

Tech, Acer, Trendforce, Backmarket, Chromebooks