Stamford-based analysis and advisory firm Gartner, Inc. mentioned rising reminiscence costs will scale back world PC and smartphone shipments in 2026.
The corporate initiatives worldwide PC shipments will fall 10.4 per cent and smartphone shipments will drop 8.4 per cent in 2026 in contrast with 2025.
It estimates a 130 per cent enhance in mixed DRAM and solid-state drive costs by the top of 2026. That is anticipated to elevate PC costs by 17 per cent and smartphone costs by 13 per cent, in contrast to 2025 ranges.
“That is the bottom degree of machine shipments witnessed in over a decade. Increased costs will slim the vary of gadgets accessible, prompting patrons to maintain on to gadgets for longer, essentially altering improve cycles,” mentioned Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner.
Gartner mentioned the rise in costs will prolong machine lifetimes. It expects PC lifespans to enhance by 15 per cent for enterprise patrons and 20 per cent for shoppers by the top of 2026.
The corporate mentioned delayed upgrades might enhance safety dangers and create challenges in managing older gadgets.
PC reminiscence costs are projected to attain 23 per cent of the full invoice of supplies, up from 16 per cent in 2025.
“This sharp enhance removes distributors’ capacity to take in costs, making low-margin entry-level laptops nonviable. Finally, we count on the sub-$500 entry-level PC section will disappear by 2028,” Atwal mentioned.
He added that greater costs for AI PCs will delay their projected 50 per cent market penetration till 2028.
The influence can be stronger in the fundamental smartphone section. Gartner mentioned entry-level smartphone patrons are doubtless to shift to refurbished or second-hand gadgets or preserve their telephones longer.
Premium smartphones will face much less strain due to greater margins.
Gartner analysts count on fundamental smartphone patrons to exit the market 5 instances sooner than premium patrons in 2026.
The corporate mentioned the primary half of 2026 can be important for pricing selections.
“Total, machine distributors and channels face a important window in the primary half of 2026 to optimise pricing and defend margins earlier than element inflation compresses profitability from the second quarter onwards,” Atwal mentioned.
(With inputs from bl intern Tejaswini S)
Printed on February 26, 2026
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