A familiar sting for PC builders: Framework has quietly nudged laptop memory prices up again, this time moving its Laptop DIY Edition DDR5 pricing toward a weighted average cost of roughly $10 per gigabyte for 8GB, 16GB and 32GB sticks — and a bit more for 48GB modules.
This is not a one-off. The company first raised DDR5 prices by about 50% earlier in December and briefly stopped selling standalone kits to deter scalpers. With supplier quotes continuing to climb, Framework says it can’t absorb the full hit and has had to pass a larger slice on to customers while still trying to be transparent about the math.
What Framework is doing — and what it’s asking you to do
Rather than hide the increase behind glossy margins, Framework is pricing upgrades to mirror the weighted-average cost of its inventory. The practical result: an 8GB DDR5 module that previously showed up at roughly $60 on the DIY configurator is now listed at about $80 — and industry watchers say that number could move again as suppliers signal more hikes into early 2026.
In a consumer-friendly move, Framework is explicitly encouraging buyers who can find cheaper modules to buy the laptop without RAM and install their own. It plans to add a direct link to PCPartPicker in its configurator so shoppers can cross-check retail pricing, and it has posted a knowledge base of tested modules to reduce compatibility worries.
Why prices are moving
The short version is demand and disruption: massive data-center consumption for AI training, constrained foundry output in places, and the classic supply-chain whiplash that follows sudden industry shifts. High-capacity modules in particular have become prime real estate for enterprise and server buyers, pushing retail laptop SODIMM supply tighter.
Analysts and memory vendors have warned that tightness could persist well into 2026 — a forecast Framework echoes by warning about more adjustments as suppliers keep lifting prices. The company also flagged that SSDs and storage components may be the next cost bucket to watch.
How this compares to other vendors
Framework positions itself as still being cheaper than many big-brand upgrade options — it points to Apple’s upgrade pricing as an extreme example (Apple charges roughly $25 per GB for some RAM upgrades). If you’re weighing a new machine against a branded alternative, that pricing difference can add up fast; for context, see how aggressive Apple’s retail pricing has made memory an expensive add-on in some recent MacBook Air deals.
If you’re tracking Apple’s wider laptop strategy, there’s also chatter about a lower-cost MacBook on the horizon, which underscores that manufacturers are juggling component costs, margins and positioning in different ways (Apple's rumored budget MacBook). If you prefer to look at hardware instead of upgrade fees, the MacBook remains an option to consider when comparing total purchase costs.
Practical choices for buyers
- Buy now: If you need a laptop today, expect memory to be pricey. Framework and others could keep raising configuration prices as suppliers update bids.
- Bring your own RAM: If you find better retail deals, Framework’s DIY model makes it simple to install your own modules — and the company is making that path easier with configurator links.
- Wait (with caution): Several vendors, including Kingston reps cited by outlets, have said people shouldn’t count on a quick softening of prices. Waiting could be a gamble.
Framework’s approach trades profit padding for transparency: it’s moving prices to reflect what it pays, and promising to lower them again if the market eases. That candor may comfort enthusiasts, but it doesn’t soften the immediate hit to anyone planning a new build or an upgrade.
The memory market’s volatility is reshaping how people shop for laptops and parts — and with enterprise demand still hungry, the bumps may not be over yet.