AI data centers may raise prices for laptops and phones in 2026

In short: More spending on AI data centers is tightening supplies of memory chips, and that could make laptops and phones cost more in 2026.

What's going on

Companies building AI data centers are buying huge amounts of storage and memory parts, the components that help devices save and quickly access information. This is putting pressure on supplies of SSDs (storage drives, like a device’s filing cabinet), DRAM (short term working memory, like a desk where you spread papers out), and NAND (a type of storage chip used in phones and PCs).

Industry analysts say the shortage is happening because major chipmakers are shifting production away from consumer electronics and toward AI infrastructure. IDC described this as a long lasting change in how the world’s silicon wafer capacity is used, meaning the factory “slices” where chips are made are being reserved for AI needs. That shift could last into 2027 or longer.

Prices have been mostly stable in early 2026 because many sellers stocked up earlier. But meaningful increases are expected in the second half of 2026. Reports cited in the video project price rises of about 10 to 20 percent for products like laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

What to watch

PC and phone makers such as Dell, HP, and Samsung may try to protect profits by pushing higher end models and offering fewer low cost options. Shoppers may also see “shrinkflation,” where a device looks similar but comes with less RAM (for example, 16GB dropping to 8GB) or lower screen quality. The same chip squeeze can also hit cars, since many car systems, from safety features to entertainment screens, rely on chips too.

Source: NYTimes