[News] Top PC Maker, Likely HP or Lenovo, Reportedly Locks in Memory Supply following Supplier Visits

As memory prices surge, PC makers are moving to pass costs onto consumers while scrambling to secure chip supply ahead of potentially larger price swings in the market by mid-2026. Yicai Global reports that a top-tier PC company recently made intensive visits to major memory suppliers—including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron—and has reached preliminary agreements to lock in supply.

Notably, industry analysts cited by the report believe the most likely candidates with such bargaining power are Lenovo and HP, whose PC business holds a 25.5% and 19.8% global market share in the latest quarter, respectively.

A wave of PC brands have alerted customers of upcoming price hikes amid rising memory costs. According to Business Insider, Dell has hiked prices across its commercial product lines, with increases ranging from 10% to 30%, starting from December 17. On the other hand, HP, as per Bloomberg, sees 2H26 as challenging and will raise prices as needed.

Lenovo, the Beijing-based PC giant, has boosted its inventory by 50% in preparation for 2026, as previously reported by Notebookcheck. Still, CFO Cheng noted that despite its scale advantage, Lenovo will need to carefully balance pricing and availability in the year ahead, the report added.

Looking ahead, TrendForce notes that rising memory costs will prompt notebook brands to adjust their product portfolios, procurement strategies, and regional sales strategies. High-end ultrathin notebooks, which often have mobile DRAM soldered directly onto the motherboard, cannot reduce costs by lowering specifications or replacing modules. Additionally, these models encounter stricter design limitations, making them the segment most prone to experiencing early and significant price pressure.

TrendForce further observes that in the consumer notebook market, current stock levels of finished goods and inexpensive memory help safeguard short-term profits. While prices may stay stable for now, medium- and long-term adjustments, such as lowering specifications or raising prices, are inevitable. TrendForce forecasts more significant price fluctuations in the PC market by the second quarter of 2026.

According to TrendForce, following next year’s price hikes, DRAM and SSD costs will make up 23% of the bill of materials (BOM) for high-end notebooks (32GB/1TB), compared with 21% for mid-range (16GB/512GB) and 20% for entry-level models (8GB/256GB).

Read more

• [News] Acer and ASUS Reportedly to Pass Surging Memory Costs to PCs in 1Q26, Hot on Dell’s Heels
• [News] Dell Reportedly Plans 10–30% Hikes on Commercial PCs From Dec. 17 as Memory Prices Surge

(Photo credit: Lenovo)