The cost of buying a laptop in India could increase noticeably in 2026 as global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure puts pressure on the supply of critical hardware components. Industry analysts say rising prices of memory chips, processors and storage components may force manufacturers to increase retail prices of laptops across segments in the coming months.
Experts believe the price hike could affect both budget and premium laptops, with some estimates suggesting that prices may rise by as much as 20 to 40 percent depending on the model and configuration.
AI boom driving component shortages
One of the biggest reasons behind the expected price increase is the growing demand for high-performance chips used in artificial intelligence systems and data centres. Companies developing AI technologies require massive amounts of computing power, which has significantly increased the demand for CPUs, DRAM memory and SSD storage. This surge in demand has led to supply shortages for consumer electronics manufacturers. Memory chips, which are a key component in laptops, have already become significantly more expensive as manufacturers prioritise supplying high-bandwidth memory for AI servers.
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According to industry estimates, the cost of RAM and storage components in a laptop could now account for over 30 per cent of the total manufacturing cost, compared with about 15 per cent earlier. When combined with rising CPU prices, the share of these components in the total bill of materials could climb to 45–58 per cent.
As a result, a laptop that previously sold for around $900 (roughly ₹83,000) could potentially see its price increase to around $1,270 (about ₹1.07 lakh) if manufacturers pass on the additional costs to consumers.
Impact on buyers in India
The expected price hike could particularly affect budget and mid-range laptop segments, which are the most popular categories in India. Entry-level devices that currently sell between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000 may move closer to ₹45,000 if component costs continue rising. Higher prices may also reduce consumer demand, with analysts predicting a slowdown in laptop shipments as buyers delay upgrades or choose lower-spec models.
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Manufacturers may try to soften the impact by offering financing options, promotional discounts or reducing specifications in some models to keep prices competitive. However, if component shortages persist, price increases across the laptop market may become unavoidable.
The developments highlight how the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technology is beginning to reshape the global electronics supply chain. While AI is driving innovation across industries, it is also making everyday consumer devices like laptops more expensive for buyers around the world.
