Laptop Prices May Increase by 5-10% in Q4 2026: Should You Buy Now or Wait?

If you are thinking about buying a new laptop or building a PC this year, waiting too long could cost you more money.

Laptop and PC prices are already under pressure because memory components like RAM and storage have become much more expensive. And now, another price increase is expected in the last three months of 2026.

According to an ASUS India executive, laptop, PC and tablet prices could see another 5-10% increase between October and December 2026. This is not a fixed price hike for every laptop in India, but it is an important warning for anyone who was already planning to buy a new device.

And honestly, the interesting part is not just the possible 5-10% increase. The bigger question is why are laptop prices going up in the first place? The answer is connected to something that you probably don’t think about when buying a laptop: memory chips.

Why Are Laptop Prices Increasing in 2026?

The main reason is the rising cost of memory.

Every laptop and PC needs memory in some form. Your RAM helps the computer run apps and programs, while SSD storage is used for Windows, games, photos, videos and other files. When the cost of these components goes up, manufacturers eventually have to deal with that extra cost.

ASUS India has said memory chips now account for nearly 50% of a device’s total cost, compared with roughly 10-15% around two years ago. The company has already seen price increases during Q3 2026 and expects another 5-10% increase during Q4.

That doesn’t mean a laptop that costs ₹50,000 today will definitely become ₹55,000 next month. Different brands and models have different costs, discounts and stock levels. But if component prices continue to stay high, manufacturers have fewer options to keep the same retail prices.

Source: Business Standard

What Is Causing the RAM and Memory Price Hike?

Here is where AI comes into the picture.

AI is not directly making your laptop expensive. The connection is that AI data centres need huge amounts of memory and storage. As companies continue spending heavily on AI infrastructure, demand for memory used in servers has increased.

This is putting pressure on the wider memory market. When manufacturers have limited production capacity and demand from large data centres is strong, consumer products can also feel the effect.

And that is why a person who simply wants a laptop for college, office work or gaming can end up paying more because of something happening in the AI industry.

Recent industry reporting has also highlighted how rising memory costs are affecting the Indian PC market, especially the budget laptop segment.

It Is Not Only About RAM

When someone says “RAM prices are increasing”, most people immediately think about laptop RAM. But the situation is a little bigger than that.

Storage is also important.

Modern laptops use SSDs instead of old mechanical hard drives in most configurations, and SSDs depend on NAND flash memory. So if memory and storage component prices stay high, laptops with larger RAM and SSD configurations can also feel the pressure.

This is one reason why the price of a laptop with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD can be affected differently from a basic model with 8GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage.

Again, this does not mean every high-spec laptop will suddenly become 10% more expensive. The actual price depends on the manufacturer, model, inventory and discounts.

How Much Could Laptop Prices Increase?

The number getting the most attention right now is 5-10%.

ASUS India has said it expects further price increases of 5-10% during the October-December quarter of 2026 because of higher memory costs.

Let’s make that easier to understand.

If a laptop costs ₹50,000 today, a 5% increase would be ₹2,500. A 10% increase would be ₹5,000.

So the same laptop could theoretically move from ₹50,000 to somewhere around ₹52,500-₹55,000 if the full increase reaches the retail price.

Current Price	5% Increase	10% Increase
₹30,000	₹1,500	₹3,000
₹40,000	₹2,000	₹4,000
₹50,000	₹2,500	₹5,000
₹60,000	₹3,000	₹6,000
₹80,000	₹4,000	₹8,000
₹1,00,000	₹5,000	₹10,000

These numbers are only examples. They are not predictions for specific laptop models. A manufacturer may increase a price by less, more, or not change it at all depending on its costs and pricing strategy.

Will Every Laptop Become More Expensive?

No, and this is something worth understanding before you panic and start shopping.

The 5-10% figure is an industry expectation, not a rule saying that every laptop in India will get exactly the same increase. Some brands may have older stock that was purchased before the latest component price increases. Others may have better margins and choose to absorb part of the additional cost.

Budget laptops could be particularly sensitive because buyers in this category usually have a fixed budget. Even an extra ₹2,000-₹4,000 can make a big difference when someone is looking for a ₹30,000-₹50,000 machine.

Business Standard recently reported that rising memory costs are already putting pressure on the sub-₹50,000 laptop segment in India.

So if you are shopping in this price range, it is worth paying attention to the market.

What About Gaming Laptops and Gaming PCs?

Gaming devices can also be affected because they use a lot of memory and storage.

A gaming laptop may come with 16GB or 32GB RAM and a large SSD, while a gaming PC needs system RAM, SSD storage and a graphics card that has its own VRAM. The exact impact will be different for every product, but higher memory costs can make the overall cost of a gaming setup more difficult to keep low.

This is especially important if you were already planning to build a PC later this year.

But there is one thing I would not recommend: don’t buy an expensive PC today just because you are scared of a possible price increase.

If you don’t need it, you don’t need it.

A price increase is only useful information. It doesn’t mean you should spend money unnecessarily.

Should You Buy a Laptop Now or Wait?

This is probably the question you came here for.

And the answer depends on whether you actually need a laptop.

If your current laptop is working fine and you were only thinking about upgrading because you wanted something newer, I would not rush. Keep using your current machine and watch the prices for a while.

But if your laptop is already old, slow or causing problems and you were planning to buy a new one in the next few months, then waiting until the end of the year may not necessarily be the best move.

Why?

Because another 5-10% increase is currently expected in Q4. If that increase actually reaches retail prices, a laptop that looks affordable today could cost more later.

At the same time, you can still get discounts during sales, and retailers may reduce prices on older models to clear stock.

So I wouldn’t say “buy immediately.”

I would say “start checking prices now.”

That is a much smarter approach.

If You Need a Laptop Soon

If you actually need a laptop for college, work, editing, gaming or any other important task, start comparing the models you want.

Check the normal price, not just the “sale” price you see on a shopping website. Compare different stores and check whether the specifications are actually good for your needs.

If you find a laptop that has the right processor, enough RAM, good storage and a price that looks genuinely good, buying it before another possible price increase can make sense.

If You Don’t Need One Right Now

Then simply wait.

There is no point spending ₹50,000 or ₹60,000 today just because someone said laptop prices may increase.

Your current laptop is not going to suddenly become useless because prices are going up.

Keep an eye on the market, save your money and buy when you actually need the upgrade.

What Should You Check Before Buying a Laptop?

If you are planning to buy a laptop during this period, don’t focus only on the price.

Look at the complete package.

Check the RAM

For many people, 16GB RAM is a more comfortable choice today than buying a basic 8GB machine and hoping it will be enough for years. Your actual requirement still depends on what you do with the laptop.

If you only browse the web and use basic apps, you don’t need an extremely powerful configuration. But if you edit videos, play games or use heavy software, more RAM can be useful.

Check the SSD

Don’t buy a laptop with a small SSD just because the processor looks powerful.

A fast processor with very little storage can become annoying pretty quickly, especially if you keep large games, videos or project files.

Check Upgrade Options

Some laptops allow you to upgrade RAM or storage later, while others have components that are difficult or impossible to replace.

If you are trying to save money, an upgradeable laptop can sometimes be a smarter long-term choice.

Compare Older Models

A previous-generation laptop is not automatically bad.

In fact, when a newer generation launches, older models can sometimes get much better discounts. If the performance is already enough for your work, an older model could give you more value for your money.

Could Laptop Prices Stay High in 2027?

This is where things become less certain.

ASUS India has said it does not currently expect memory costs to come down in 2027, although the company also said the picture for 2027 remains unclear.

So it would be wrong to say that laptop prices will definitely remain high throughout 2027.

Nobody can know that for sure right now.

Memory markets can change. Manufacturers can increase production, demand can change, and pricing can move in either direction.

For now, the safer conclusion is simply that memory costs are putting pressure on device prices, and the industry is expecting another increase in Q4 2026.

Is This a Good Time to Build a PC?

If you already have a working PC and don’t need an upgrade, you can wait.

But if you were already planning a new build, start checking the prices of the components you need.

This is especially useful because PC builds give you more flexibility than laptops. You can decide where to spend more and where to save.

For example, you may not need 64GB RAM for your use. You could start with a sensible configuration and upgrade later if the motherboard and system support it.

The important thing is to build according to your actual needs instead of buying the biggest numbers just because they look impressive on the specification sheet.

The Bigger Problem Behind the Price Hike

The laptop price increase is actually a small part of a much bigger technology story.

The same memory supply that powers normal laptops and PCs is also needed by modern data centres. As demand for AI infrastructure grows, companies are competing for more advanced memory and computing components.

That creates pressure throughout the supply chain.

So when someone says, “Why is my laptop getting expensive because of AI?”, it may sound strange at first. But once you look at what is inside the laptop and where those components are being used around the world, it starts to make more sense.

And this is why the current situation is worth watching even if you are not interested in AI at all.

My Take: Don’t Panic, But Don’t Ignore It

Personally, I wouldn’t panic over the 5-10% figure.

A lot can change between now and the end of 2026, and the actual price increase will not be the same for every laptop or PC.

But I also wouldn’t ignore the news if I was already planning to buy a laptop.

If you need a new machine soon, start tracking the price now. Find two or three models that fit your budget and see how their prices change over the next few weeks. That gives you a much better idea of whether a deal is actually good.

And if you don’t need a new laptop, simply wait.

You don’t have to buy something just because prices might go up.

Final Verdict

So, are laptop and PC prices going up?

There is strong pressure for another increase, and ASUS India expects prices to rise by around 5-10% in Q4 2026. But that does not mean every laptop will suddenly become 10% more expensive.

The main reason is the rising cost of memory chips. AI and data-centre demand is one of the factors putting pressure on the memory supply chain, while those same components are also needed in normal laptops, PCs and other electronics.

For someone planning a purchase, the smartest move is not to panic-buy.

If you need a laptop soon, compare prices now and look for a genuinely good deal. If your current laptop is working perfectly, keep using it and wait.

The important thing is to know what is happening in the market so that when you finally buy, you don’t end up paying more than you actually need to.

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