CES 2026 Highlights Challenges Facing the PC Industry This Year

The computing industry faces significant challenges in 2026, with rising prices and limited availability impacting consumer electronics. Key figures from CES 2026 highlighted these concerns, particularly regarding RAM and semiconductor supplies. Major advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are further complicating the landscape.

Rising Costs for Consumer PCs

Dell has announced pricing increases for its XPS line. The new XPS 14 starts at $2,050, while the XPS 16 is priced at $2,200. This represents a substantial jump from previous prices, which were around $1,699 and $1,899, respectively. Apple’s MacBook Pro 14-inch model remains unchanged at $1,599, but Dell’s offerings are still more affordable compared to the $2,499 MacBook Pro 16-inch.

Market Predictions from AMD’s Leadership

During a panel discussion, AMD’s David McAfee shared insights on the future of PC upgrades. He predicts that consumers will lean towards piecemeal upgrades rather than entire system replacements. This trend may be driven by the longevity and compatibility of AMD’s AM4 and AM5 platforms. Users can upgrade CPUs without the need for new RAM or motherboards, making the process more economical.

• Approx. 30-40% of AMD’s business is linked to the AM4 platform.
• Older CPUs like the 2600 and 3000 series are still popular among gamers.
• The high cache in AMD’s X3D chips minimizes issues with slower RAM.

The RAM Market Crisis

The rise in demand for powerful AI supercomputers has strained the RAM market. NVIDIA’s recent release of the Vera Rubin AI supercomputer, capable of supporting up to 54TB of RAM using 36 Vera CPUs, exemplifies this trend. Meanwhile, AMD’s Helios AI system supports up to 31TB of memory across its GPUs.

The increased demand for high-performance computing systems, particularly for AI development, has led to widespread shortages in RAM supply. As noted by Samsung’s Wonjin Lee, the ongoing semiconductor supply issues will have widespread effects, contributing to rising prices across the tech market.

Implications for the PC Industry

The persistently volatile RAM market is expected to impact PC manufacturers significantly. Companies like Dell and Acer have refrained from commenting on the situation, perhaps in hopes of stabilization prior to product launches. The demand from the AI sector is likely to continue shaping the market, leading to higher prices for consumers and fewer options in the short term.

As we navigate 2026, consumers should prepare for a year of increasing costs and a challenging landscape in the PC industry.