Say bye to cheap PCs – they are expected to disappear by 2028
The PC market is under great pressure as it faces memory and storage shortages driven by massive AI data center construction projects around the world.
According to a new study from Gartner, a company dedicated to providing technical and business analysis, the PC market is expected to be so bad by 2028 that entry-level PCs will have completely disappeared.
The sub-$500 PC segment will disappear by 2028.
Ranjit Atwal, Sr. Director Analyst, Gartner
According to Gartner’s analysis, rising costs of memory and storage are expected to reduce worldwide PC shipments by 10.4% in 2026 compared to 2025. This figure comes along with an estimated 17% price increase for PCs in general to run for the rest of the year.
Compared to 2025, when memory costs make up about 16% of laptop costs, memory costs are expected to rise to about 23%. As Gartner points out, this will make it more difficult for brands to hold down certain costs to keep prices low, which is why the sub-$500 laptop market is expected to disappear.
The first half of 2026 is positioned as a “critical window” for PC makers looking to “increase prices and protect margins.” The second quarter is where the biggest slowdown can be felt, when the rising cost of parts really starts to erode profits.
Side effects of rising laptop prices
One aspect of the rise in laptop prices that I haven’t paid enough attention to is how long PCs are expected to last now that they are so hard on the wallet.
Gartner believes that the PC development cycle will be “fundamentally changed” as the world sees fewer shipments. As many users try to stop buying something new (and possibly out of their price range), Gartner predicts that PCs will remain between 15% (business) and 20% (consumers) for a long time until the end of 2026.
Gartner also notes that rising PC prices will impact AI PC adoption rates. It was thought that AI PCs would make up about 50 percent of the market by 2028, but that no longer seems likely.
Windows Central takes on rising laptop prices
I’ve been watching the rise in RAM and storage costs since last year, and I wish I could say that the situation is improving. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and we’re already seeing PC prices skyrocket.
My best advice? If your current PC won’t last for years to come, grab a new laptop or desktop as soon as possible. They still have plenty of great Windows laptops available for under $1,000, some even as low as $500 with a decent discount.
I want to know what you think
Is Gartner’s prediction of the sub-$500 PC market disappearing accurate? Are you worried about paying for your next PC? Let me know in the comments section!
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