Looking for a new PC? With RAM prices and shortages showing no sign of disappearing, is might be time to buy a secondhand laptop

• AI data center demand is reducing the memory supply for consumer devices
• Refurbished PC sales increased 7% across major European markets
• 40% of refurbished laptops sell between €200 and €300 — a much cheaper option for consumers

Anyone shopping for a new PC in 2026 will likely face higher prices and tighter supply conditions than in recent years due to chip shortages, experts have warned.

Memory manufacturers are allocating more production capacity to high-margin components destined for AI data centers rather than modules typically used in mainstream PCs and smartphones.

That shift is contributing to sustained pricing pressure across consumer hardware categories, with little evidence that relief is imminent.