Extinction Watch: Sub-$500 Computers in Danger, According to Report
Extinction Watch: Sub-$500 Computers in Danger, According to Report
Publish Date: 2026-03-02 13:40:00
Source Domain: www.cnet.com
- Increase in memory prices could halt production of sub-$500 laptops and desktops by 2028, according to Gartner.
- RAM and SSD storage costs expected to double, leading to a 17 percent rise in overall PC prices.
- PC users may delay upgrades, making cost recovery for brands harder.
- AI PCs adoption projected to be slow, taking until 2028 for them to comprise 50 percent of the PC market.
- Similar trends in mobile technology are affecting PC costs.
- Budget PCs are key for students and casual users, often priced at $500 or less.
- Gartner’s report arrives as Apple is speculated to release a budget-friendly MacBook soon.
