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The tech industry is currently hit by massive memory shortages, and the effects are being felt everywhere. Over the past ten or so months, prices of DRAM and NAND chips have surged, forcing companies to increase the prices of everything from PCs and smartphones to gaming consoles, gaming handhelds, and SSDs. A ‘new normal’ has essentially been established.
Even Apple recently confirmed that some of its products will become more expensive, while Microsoft and Sony have also increased console prices in various regions. Even new hardware launches, such as Valve’s Steam Machine, have ended up costing much more than initially expected. Now, Lenovo has weighed in on the situation, and its outlook isn’t particularly encouraging.
Another five years or so before RAM prices normalize, say Lenovo
During a presentation at ISC 2026, Lenovo introduced what it called a “RAMageddon Survival Guide” and warned that memory prices are unlikely to return to the levels seen in 2024 and early 2025. Company executives jokingly said prices may “never” go back down, though they later clarified that they were mainly referring to the next five years or so.
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According to Lenovo, even the large manufacturing expansions planned by memory makers may not be enough to significantly lower prices before the end of the decade. The company believes a new normal will eventually emerge around 2030, but prices will remain much higher than they were a few years ago. AMD previously suggested a two-year timeframe.
Large cloud companies and AI firms are buying huge amounts of memory for servers and data centers. Companies such as Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are dedicating more of their production capacity to high-end memory products used in AI systems. Some cloud providers are even signing long-term agreements that reserve a massive portion of future memory production. Because of this, consumer products are getting pushed to the back of the line.
Even though memory manufacturers are planning to increase production capacity over the coming years, demand is also rising at an incredible pace. SK Hynix, for example, reportedly plans to triple its memory output by the early 2030s, but Lenovo believes that may still not be enough to fully close the supply gap. For consumers, this means one thing: technology is likely going to get more expensive. Gaming PCs, laptops, smartphones, SSDs, and consoles could all see further price increases over the next few years if memory costs continue to climb.
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