What started as an equipment shuffle inside data centers has metastasized into a headache for anyone trying to buy a laptop.
Framework, the modular laptop maker known for trying to keep component costs low, quietly raised the price of its DDR5 memory options for DIY Laptop editions by 50%. The company says existing pre-orders and pre-built systems are protected, and you can still order a DIY chassis without memory if you prefer to reuse modules you already own. Framework also tightened its returns policy so that DDR5 sticks must be returned with any DIY laptop refunds — a small attempt to blunt scalper behavior as memory becomes more valuable on the aftermarket.
A few feet over in the corporate sales pipeline, Dell has told staff to expect price increases starting December 17. Internal materials seen by reporters show hikes that depend on configuration: adding 32GB of DRAM can tack on roughly $130–$230, while 128GB upgrades may add $520–$765. SSD capacities will cost more too. Dell is telling sales teams to move decisively to lock in deals, even as the company absorbs some pain by cutting discounts and taking margin hits.
Why it's happening
The short version: AI is gobbling memory. The more complete version is messier. Large cloud and AI customers are buying huge volumes of DRAM, HBM and NAND for training and inference servers. That demand is pricier and more predictable than consumer purchases, so the big memory makers — Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron — have prioritized higher-margin server business. Production capacity (silicon wafers, fab runs) is finite in the short term, and repurposing lines toward HBM and AI-oriented products means less commodity DRAM for laptops, phones and consoles.
The result: DRAM prices have moved sharply upward this year and are expected to stay elevated into 2026 and possibly beyond. Analysts note that the three manufacturers control the vast majority of the market, which limits how quickly supply can rebalance.
How manufacturers are responding
- Some vendors are raising prices across product lines. Dell’s corporate list is only the most visible example — others including Lenovo and HP have signaled similar moves. Retail and gaming-PC builders have already announced price adjustments.
- Some companies may shave specs or substitute components to preserve price points (smaller batteries, different screens, less RAM in base models). That’s more likely in low-margin devices where there’s little room to absorb higher memory costs.
- Micron’s strategic pivot away from certain consumer channels is an example of industry reorientation; the shift has direct consequences for brands and hobbyists who relied on consumer-focused supply chains. Recent coverage of Micron’s moves helps explain why some consumer-facing memory brands are changing course: Crucial is shutting down — because Micron wants to sell its RAM and SSDs to AI companies instead.
- Buy sooner rather than later. If your upgrade can wait only a little, prices for laptops and memory options could be higher next quarter. CNET and other outlets have been advising buyers to act before the next wave of price jumps.
- Install as much RAM as you can afford now. Many thin-and-light laptops solder RAM, so preconfigure them with more memory if you anticipate needing it later.
- For Apple buyers, consider current deals. Apple’s hardware exposure to memory inflation could compress margins and nudge pricing strategies; meanwhile there are still solid Black Friday/CES-season discounts on Macs — including the M4-equipped MacBook Air — which you can check as you shop MacBook Air. For people watching Apple’s hardware lineup and price sensitivity, the company's rumored budget MacBook plans are also worth tracking: Apple's Rumored Budget MacBook: What We Know About the J700 and Who It’s For.
What you can do (if you need a new machine)
Bigger-picture implications
This is not a one-quarter supply glitch. Memory makers are deliberately reshaping capacity and customer mixes to capture the AI tailwinds — and they’re doing it at scale. The consequences ripple from gamers and PC upgraders to phone buyers and device makers that depend on predictable component costs. Investors are already pricing in margin pressure for hardware companies; analysts warn that sustained DRAM/NAND inflation could shave gross margins for big consumer brands.
For the consumer, that means the easy thrift of buying last season’s laptop and slapping in cheap RAM may be harder to pull off. For the industry, it raises uncomfortable questions about how dependent everyday devices should be on commoditized parts whose economics are increasingly driven by giant AI customers.
This is an evolving market — one where a seat at the server table now buys preferential treatment for memory. The scramble that followed will change how and where devices are built, sold, and priced for at least the next couple of years.