Gaming laptop prices are expected to rise by up to 20% this year, and the increase is already happening in some markets. The main reason behind this shift is the sharp rise in memory and storage costs, especially RAM and SSDs.

The situation became clear after ASUS announced new price increases starting January 5. According to Taiwanese publication Mirror Daily, retailers in Taiwan were informed that standard laptops would see price hikes of NT$3,000 to NT$5,000, while gaming laptops would increase by NT$8,000 to NT$10,000. These are not small adjustments. For many buyers, this means paying significantly more for the same hardware.

Gaming laptop price hikes are already happening

Looking at current pricing helps explain the impact. ASUS entry-level laptops are currently priced around NT$14,000, while mid- to high-end office laptops are closer to NT$30,000, which is a roughly 15% to 20% increase. Gaming laptops are affected even more severely than lightweight notebooks. Since most gaming models start above NT$35,000 and can easily go beyond NT$50,000, a price jump of up to 20% pushes them into a much higher bracket.

ASUS is not acting alone. Shortly after the announcement, retailers at Guanghua Digital Plaza in Taiwan raised prices on laptops from Acer, HP, Dell, MSI, and Gigabyte. Many stores confirmed average increases of around NT$6,000 per unit, again landing in the same 15% to 20% range. While this is from Taiwan, it may not be long before retailers all over the world adjust their prices.

The core problem is the memory and storage supply. Retailers and manufacturers say that DRAM and SSD prices have risen too much in a short period of time due to high demand from AI data centers. These components are critical for modern laptops, especially gaming systems that rely on large amounts of RAM and fast storage. As these parts become more expensive, manufacturers are left with little choice but to pass the cost on to buyers.

It has also been reported that ASUS won’t launch any new phones in 2026 as a result of soaring costs. Research from Trendforce predicts that smartphone and notebook suppliers will be cutting back on memory capacity where possible, essentially downgrading the RAM while raising prices.

Industry experts also warn that this may only be the first wave of price hikes. Costs for other materials, including aluminum, gold, tin, power modules, and PCBs, are also rising. If these trends continue, another round of increases will likely happen.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.