Laptop prices are going up, not down. A price index built on daily tracking shows laptop prices up 16.82% over the 12 months to October 2026, and the cause is structural: AI data centers are soaking up memory chips. The best time to buy is still a big sale event, but the discounts now come off a higher starting point, so the sticker percentage tells you less than it used to. This guide covers what is driving prices, when the real savings still appear, and how to check a deal against actual price history.
TL;DR
- Laptop prices rose roughly 17% over the past year, and IDC expects memory costs to keep pressure on PC prices through 2027.
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain the deepest discounts, and back-to-school season is the second-best window. Both start from inflated list prices this year.
- Waiting for a bargain is riskier than it used to be. Older-generation models with good specs can sell out fast.
- Track the exact model number, not the product name, and compare any "sale" price with recorded price history before you buy.
Table of Contents
- What is pushing laptop prices up in 2026
- When are laptops cheapest?
- Should you wait for a better price?
- How to read laptop price history
- Brand-by-brand: where to look
- Our perspective: trust recorded prices, not claimed ones
- See current laptop prices
- FAQ
- Sources
What is pushing laptop prices up in 2026
For years the pattern was predictable: new models arrived, old ones got cheaper, and November delivered the lowest prices of the year. That pattern has been bent by one component. DRAM and flash storage are in short supply because AI data centers are buying them in huge volumes.
IDC's mid-year outlook is blunt. It now forecasts global PC shipments falling 11.3% for the full year, with conditions worsening through the fourth quarter. Fewer units shipped and higher costs per unit is the combination that lifts shelf prices.
The consequences show up in three ways:
- Sticker prices rise. Apple, for example, raised the 512GB MacBook Air from $1,099 to $1,299 on June 25, according to a Black Friday price guide that cites the company's memory costs. Analysts quoted in the same guide expect PC prices to climb about 17% across 2026.
- Specs quietly slip. Consumer Reports has warned about "shrinkflation" in consumer electronics, where a machine holds a familiar price point such as $599 or $799 while the RAM, display or build quality is trimmed.
- Cheap options thin out. IDC analyst Jean Philippe Bouchard has described a collision between the need for AI-ready PCs that require more RAM and the highest memory costs in years, which leaves manufacturers struggling to keep full product lineups, and budget models are the first to go.
If you want the component side of the story, our SSD price history breaks down how storage costs have moved through the AI squeeze.
Is this a blip or the new normal?
IDC's reading is that the shortage runs through 2027, which means waiting a few months for prices to "come back to normal" is a weak plan. Demand has also been distorted. IDC research points to front-loading, meaning buyers pulled purchases forward to beat expected hikes. That can make the market look healthier than it is, and analysts expect weaker volume later in the year.
When are laptops cheapest?
Prices still follow a calendar, even in an inflating market. The calendar just matters in a different way: a discount now partly offsets a price rise instead of adding to an already low price.
| Window | Typical savings | What sells well |
|---|---|---|
| Black Friday and Cyber Monday (late November) | 20% to 38% off MSRP | Premium and gaming models, last year's flagships |
| Back-to-school (late July to early September) | 7% to 22% | Student and mainstream laptops, Chromebooks |
| After a new model launches | Varies by retailer | Previous-generation models |
| Mid-month, outside major events | Small, often brief | Specific configurations that dip briefly |
The TechRadar ranges come from a guide last updated in 2024, so treat them as the historical pattern rather than a promise for this November. Consumer Reports makes the same broad point: laptops often go on sale at predictable moments, but a tariff or cost shock can change what retailers are willing to discount.
Black Friday 2026: bigger labels, smaller real savings
A "20% off" tag means little if the list price was raised in the spring. The Black Friday guide cited above makes this point directly: labels may bring a laptop back to roughly where it already was rather than below it. So the question to ask is not how big the discount is, but what the lowest price this exact model has actually reached.
Back-to-school: the quieter bargain
Student-oriented models get steady promotions from late July through early September. If you missed it this year, the next cycle is a long way off, so the rest of the calendar matters. For a sense of what else to weigh when you are shopping for a school or work device, this roundup of tablets for work and entertainment is a useful comparison if a tablet might do the job instead of a laptop.
Should you wait for a better price?
In a normal year, patience pays. This year it carries more risk. Analysts at OpenBrand, cited by Consumer Reports, say that in high-inflation tech markets waiting for a deal is riskier than it used to be, because retailers manage inventory conservatively and the better-value older models can disappear quickly.
A practical way to decide:
- Your laptop is failing or you need it for work now. Buy now, using price history to avoid overpaying. A week of downtime costs more than most discounts save.
- Your laptop works and you want an upgrade. Set an alert on a specific model and wait for the late-November window. Set a maximum price in advance so you act when it is hit.
- You are flexible on specs. Look at last year's model. Retailers often keep machines that are one to two years old in stock, and they can match new versions in performance at lower prices.
How to read laptop price history
Price history is the only reliable way to separate a real deal from a marked-up list price. Here is how to use it.
- Track the model number, not the name. The same product name can cover several configurations with different RAM and storage. A cheaper listing may be a stripped-down variant. Consumer Reports advises tracking specific model numbers so you know you are getting the spec you want.
- Find the 90-day low and the all-time low. A price within a few percent of the 90-day low is usually a good buy. A price far above it is not a deal, whatever the banner says.
- Check the spec before the price. With memory costs high, confirm RAM and storage. A 16GB model that quietly became 8GB at the same price is a price increase.
- Look for patterns by retailer. Some laptops dip for a day or two on a single retailer. Alerts catch those dips; manual checking rarely does.
- Keep tracking after you buy. If the price falls inside the return window, you may be able to return and rebuy, or request an adjustment where a retailer offers one.
Brand-by-brand: where to look
Brands move differently, so check the one you are considering. Our pages show current prices and recorded history:
If you are comparing a laptop to a desktop, desktop prices are listed too, and PC components are worth a look if you are building or upgrading rather than replacing. Upgrading RAM or an SSD in an existing machine can be a way around a full replacement cost.
Our perspective: trust recorded prices, not claimed ones
We track prices all day, and the most common mistake we see is trusting a "was" price. A listing can show a high reference price next to the current one and call the gap a discount. That tells you what the seller wants you to compare against, not what the product actually sold for.
That is why BasketPrice publishes price records based on our own collected readings, not merchant claims. In a market where list prices are rising and specs are shifting, this matters more. A 25% discount from a freshly raised list price can still be higher than what the same laptop cost in August.
Our advice for this season is simple. Decide your must-have specs first. Pick one or two exact model numbers. Set price alerts, which in our case run through browser notifications with no sign-up needed. Then buy when the recorded price reaches a level you chose in advance. We also support alerts for post-purchase price drops inside return windows, because the decision to buy does not have to be the end of the tracking.
— Cleaning
See current laptop prices
If you are ready to compare, our laptop price page lists what is on offer from major online retailers, primarily Amazon, with recorded price history so you can see whether today's number is high or low. You can also browse best-selling laptops or set a browser alert on the model you want and let the price come to you.
FAQ
Are laptop prices going up or down?
Up. Tracked prices rose 16.82% over the 12 months ending October 2026, driven largely by memory and storage costs. IDC does not expect meaningful relief before the end of 2027.
What is the best month to buy a laptop?
November, thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which have historically brought discounts of 20% to 38%. Back-to-school season, from late July to early September, is the next best. Check recorded price history, because this year's list prices start higher.
Should I buy a laptop now or wait for Black Friday?
If you need one now, buy it and track the price afterward. If you can wait, set an alert with a target price and see whether November hits it. Be ready to act quickly, since older models can sell out.
Will laptops get cheaper in 2027?
Not likely early on. IDC describes the shortage as persisting through 2027. Prices could ease later if memory supply catches up, but nobody can promise a date.
Sources
- Laptop price index (Zinc)
- IDC: PC market 2026 and the memory shortage
- IDC: India PC market Q1 2026
- Consumer Reports: AI data centers, RAM and laptop prices
- Consumer Reports: how to save if tariffs raise tech prices
- Consumer Reports: is this the best time to buy a laptop?
- TechRadar: the best time to buy a laptop
- Memeburn: Black Friday laptop prices to beat