First, the short answer: RAM prices in 2026 will remain high, but according to ASUS, the biggest spike is behind us. For the third quarter, the manufacturer expects only a single-digit price increase for its PCs—somewhere between one and nine percent; internally, they’re anticipating around five percent. That’s a far cry from the steep jumps seen in the first half of the year.
Anyone who’s bought a new computer or RAM in recent months knows the problem. Since late 2025, many PC products have become significantly more expensive, driven by shortages of memory, processors, and SSDs. Now there’s at least a small glimmer of hope.
TL;DR: The most important points in brief
- ASUS expects only single-digit PC price increases in the third quarter of 2026—around five percent.
- Since the fourth quarter of 2025, individual ASUS products have become about 30 percent more expensive.
- The reason for the easing of pressure: Prices for memory and SSDs have recently declined slightly.
- For now, this statement applies only to the Taiwanese market. There is no specific forecast for Europe and the U.S.
- Analysts expect PC shipments to decline by 10 to 15 percent in 2026.
Why PC prices rose in 2026 in the first place
The trigger is well known: the AI industry’s hunger for memory. DRAM and NAND flash are flowing into data centers in massive quantities, leaving less for the consumer market. The result is higher prices across the entire supply chain. ASUS had therefore already officially announced price adjustments as of January 5, 2026, citing DRAM and SSDs directly.
According to ASUS manager Liao Yi-hsiang, prices for individual products in May were already nearly 30 percent higher than in the fourth quarter of 2025. This increase is spread across the first two quarters of the year, each of which saw significant price adjustments.
RAM Prices in 2026: Why the Markups Are Now Smaller
The reason for the expected stabilization is simple: component prices have recently edged downward slightly. Memory and hard drives have become somewhat more affordable, and ASUS does not want to pass on the full margin to end customers. There’s also a pragmatic calculation behind this—another large price hike would exceed the pain threshold for many buyers, and then simply no one would buy anymore.
The manager’s wording is interesting. It almost sounds as if ASUS would like to raise prices more, but doesn’t dare to because demand is already weakening. A look at the current prices of high-end laptops makes this understandable.
The Numbers at a Glance
| Time Period / Key Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Price increase since Q4 2025 (individual products) | about 30% |
| Expected increase in Q3 2026 | single-digit, approx. 5% |
| Cumulative increase through the end of Q3 2026 | about 35% |
| Expected decline in global PC shipments in 2026 | 10 to 15% |
| ASUS revenue growth in the PC business (year-over-year, Q1) | 25% |
| Share of premium products in PC revenue | about 60% |
What this means for German buyers
Here’s the catch: The forecast explicitly refers to the Taiwanese market. According to the Economic Daily News, ASUS has not made any comparable statements for other regions, so the price trend in Europe and the U.S. remains unclear. Exchange rates, logistics, and local taxes also play a role. It would therefore be premature to apply this directly to German prices on a one-to-one basis.
Nevertheless, the trend is a good sign. Experience shows that when the largest manufacturer signals that the sharp price hikes are over, other OEMs tend to follow suit. However, Lenovo is planning another round of price increases starting in July, and Acer also does not expect prices to fall—at best, they anticipate a slower rise. So there’s still no sign of any real relief.
Why ASUS Is Still Doing Well
Although unit sales are declining, ASUS is doing well financially. In the first quarter of 2026, PC revenue rose by 25 percent compared to the previous year. The reason: more expensive devices. High-priced premium products such as ROG gaming systems or commercial computers now account for around 60 percent of PC revenue. Buyers in this segment are less price-sensitive, and that is precisely what is propping up the bottom line.
For the mass market, this is mixed news. Everything looks great in the ASUS management’s Excel spreadsheet, but not so much for the average customer. Anyone looking for an affordable mid-range system feels the impact of higher average prices right away.
Is it worth the wait?
That’s a tough question. Spot markets continue to show double-digit markups for consumer DRAM and SSDs, and some forecasts don’t predict any real relief until 2028. Anyone who urgently needs hardware shouldn’t count on a major price drop—that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. If you have time, you can keep an eye out for promotions and bundle deals, such as during the major annual sales events.
There’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation. If you have an urgent need—for work or school, for example—waiting rarely makes sense. On the other hand, if you’re simply looking to upgrade because you want to, patience can pay off. If you want to compare the latest premium devices, you’ll find the specs and prices for the new Dell XPS 13 and the Razer Blade 16 (2026) here.
Conclusion on RAM Prices in 2026
RAM prices in 2026 and PC prices overall remain high, but ASUS believes the steepest part of the increase is behind it. A single-digit increase in the third quarter is significantly more manageable than the 30 percent seen in the first half of the year. This isn’t a definitive all-clear, especially since the statement applies only to Taiwan and the memory market remains tight. For buyers, this means: If you really need it, go for it; if it’s a luxury upgrade, feel free to wait it out.
