AI is making laptops pricier in 2026: Here’s how to choose your next one

Laptops are pricier than ever, and considering the market situation, it only seems to be getting worse. The shortage of RAM chips, driven by the huge demand for AI data centers, has led chip makers to prioritise their production for the more profit-yielding AI machines. As a result, your average laptop price has only risen astronomically high.

Hence, in a perfect storm of AI-driven demand and global supply chain issues, it is wise to make an informed and smart choice when buying a new laptop. For the first time in recent years, the need for reliability and sustained performance suddenly outweighs the usual factors that consumers keep looking for.