Acer: Memory Shortages Ease, PC Prices to Rise Into 2027

According to Acer Chairman Jason Chen, shortages of key components in the PC industry are gradually easing, although some memory and CPU specifications remain tight. However, component prices are still fluctuating at high levels, and higher costs are expected to push up end-product PC prices in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Chen made the remarks on September 19 at the “Owang Management and AI International Forum,” held as Acer Group marks its 50th anniversary. He said the component market has entered a period of “high-level volatility,” with some market participants continuing to quote high prices while others are rushing to sell at lower prices.

Memory Supply Conditions Improve

Chen said supplies of DDR4 and mainstream DDR5 memory are currently relatively sufficient. DDR4 prices have even started to decline. The remaining shortages are mainly concentrated in high-end components, including LPDDR5X 9600 used in systems paired with NVIDIA’s latest N1 and N1X platforms.

Because these high-end systems have relatively high selling prices but account for a smaller share of total shipments, their impact on the overall PC market remains limited.

CPU Shortages Are Also Easing

CPU availability has also improved compared with earlier concerns. Chen noted that the market is no longer facing widespread CPU shortages, with supply pressure mainly affecting certain processors used in specific Microsoft projects, including some Small Core products. Most other CPU supply issues have recently been resolved.

Chen also pointed to continued semiconductor capacity expansion, particularly among manufacturers in China, as a factor that should gradually improve memory availability. With new capacity continuing to come online, component supply is becoming more abundant relative to demand.

PC Prices Could Rise 5–20%

Despite easing shortages, elevated component costs are expected to put further pressure on PC manufacturers and consumers. Chen expects higher component prices to gradually be reflected in end-product pricing, with PC prices potentially increasing by an average of 5% to 20% during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Because retail prices typically adjust with a delay, cost increases could continue to affect PC prices into the first quarter of 2027. Chen expects the PC average selling price (ASP) to peak around mid-2027, with prices potentially beginning to decline in the second half of 2027, depending on supply and demand conditions.

Higher PC prices could weigh on market demand. Some research institutions have projected that global PC shipments could decline by double digits in 2027. However, higher ASPs could partially offset lower unit shipments, meaning industry revenue may not necessarily decline at the same rate.

Overall, the PC component market is moving from broad-based shortages toward a more mixed supply environment. While selected high-end memory and CPU products remain constrained, expanding semiconductor capacity is gradually improving overall availability.