Key Takeaways
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- The RAM market is forecasted to face a significant shortage in 2026, potentially causing the PC market to contract by up to 9%.
- The shortage is due to limited supply and increased costs, affecting not only PCs but also various other electronic devices like consoles, smartphones, TVs, cars, and smart home devices.
- AI companies have been consuming a large portion of the available RAM supply, leading to inflated prices for various products.
- Analysts predict this shortage will persist for multiple years, similar to the supply chain disruptions seen during the early pandemic.
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Rising RAM Shortage Forecasted to Contract PC Market by up to 9% in 2026
After a difficult year for RAM in 2025, the situation is expected to worsen in 2026. Limited RAM availability and increased costs will affect not only PCs but also consoles, smartphones, TVs, cars, and smart home devices. IDC now projects that the PC market may decline by as much as 9% this year, a significant adjustment from their December forecast of a 2.5% drop. Their most optimistic scenario still predicts a 5% decrease, which they attribute to the ongoing RAM shortage. This RAM crisis has been escalating since October of last year, with AI companies consuming the majority of available supply. Consequently, consumers are facing inflated prices for a wide range of products, from PCs to automobiles, similar to the supply chain disruptions seen during the early pandemic. Analysts predict this shortage will persist for years.
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