AI causes RAM crisis, Apple sensible
AI demands have triggered severe RAM shortages in the PC industry, driving up laptop prices. This makes Apple's pricing appear reasonable heading into 2026.
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Meta Quest prices rise April 19
Meta will raise Quest 3 price by $100 to $599 and Quest 3S by $50 to $350/$450 on April 19. Increases blamed on RAM shortages driven by AI data center demand. Accessories unchanged, but refurbished units also pricier.
Surface Prices Jump $500 on RAM Shortage
Microsoft raises Surface Laptop and Pro prices by $500 to $1,499 due to global RAM shortage. This affects older models despite upcoming new releases. Surface now costs more than comparable Apple devices.
PC Sales Up 2.5% Q1 Despite RAM Shortage
IDC reports 65.6M PCs sold in Q1 2026, up 2.5% YoY, driven by pre-price-hike buying. Sales rise amid RAM shortage and Middle East conflict volatility. Top vendors: Lenovo, HP, Dell; Asus leads growth at 17.1%.
Raspberry Pi 5 Price Hikes $100+
Raspberry Pi is raising prices on over a dozen models due to ongoing RAM shortage, with the 16GB Pi 5 increasing by $100. This follows previous hikes in December and February. CEO Eben Upton states the increases are temporary and will be reversed.
RAM Crisis Gives Apple PC Market Edge
Global RAM shortages, driven by AI data center demand from SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron, are spiking prices 50%+ and threatening 40% laptop hikes. Apple's $600 MacBook Neo with 8GB RAM performs uncompromised due to efficient silicon/software, shocking competitors like ASUS.
Global Memory Surge: 32GB Hits 3800 Yuan
Memory prices worldwide have exploded, with 32GB strips jumping from 800 to 3800 yuan—a 375% rise. Kingston 16GB basics rose from 200 to over 800 yuan since last spring. PC and gaming costs soar, driving demand for second-hand alternatives.
Framework hikes RAM/storage prices again
Framework is raising RAM and storage prices for its modular PCs for the fourth straight month due to supplier shortages. DDR5 RAM now costs $13-$18 per GB, up from $12-$16 in February, while storage capacities are also re-priced after selling out cheaper inventory. The Framework Desktop base configuration increases to $1,269 from $1,139.
Apple drops 512GB Mac Studio on RAM shortage
Apple has quietly removed the 512GB Mac Studio from its lineup. This move acknowledges the ongoing RAM component shortage. Despite business-as-usual announcements elsewhere, supply issues persist.
AI RAM Shortage Triggers Record Smartphone Sales Drop
IDC forecasts smartphone shipments to drop 12.9% this year, the lowest in over a decade, due to RAM shortages from memory-intensive AI companies. Average selling prices will rise 14% to a record $523. Memory prices are expected to stabilize by mid-2027 but won't return to prior levels.