Acer Expects Significantly Higher PC Prices in the Year-End Business

Acer is preparing for higher PC prices. The reason is persistently expensive memory components. The company expects relief in the second half of 2027 at the earliest.

As reported by Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, Acer Chairman Jason Chen expects a price increase of 5 to 20 percent for PC systems in the fourth quarter of 2026. Strikingly, the supply situation itself has actually improved. According to Chen, DDR4 and DDR5 memory are now sufficiently available, and the situation with processors is also largely stable, with the exception of certain entry-level models that remain scarce. Nevertheless, Intel and AMD have raised their CPU prices several times throughout the year.

Memory and SSDs Remain Expensive

RAM and SSDs remain the primary price drivers. Despite better availability, their costs have not decreased. For the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 13 to 18 percent over the previous quarter is expected for DRAM contracts, while the forecasted increase for NAND flash memory stands at 10 to 15 percent.

Chen finds some hope in the growing influence of Chinese memory manufacturers. According to market data from Counterpoint Research, CXMT already reached a 10 percent share of global DRAM revenue in the second quarter of 2026. YMTC is also gaining traction in the NAND segment. Furthermore, reports indicate that CXMT is entering NAND manufacturing and evaluating a second DRAM plant in Beijing, with a potential total capacity of around 600,000 wafers per month if the plans are realized.

For customers, this means prices are likely to continue rising for now. Acer assumes that the peak will be reached around mid-2027. Only when lower memory and SSD costs actually filter through to finished devices does the company consider stabilization or even falling prices possible in the second half of 2027.

(Editorial Team)