Lenovo stockpiled enough RAM for 2026. It’s still raising PC prices

Basically every PC maker that has made a public statement about the RAM crisis says they will have to raise prices or make other adjustments, like bringing mid-range laptops down to just 8GB of memory. Lenovo, the world’s largest PC maker, was a happy exception, saying it had enough RAM to last until 2026. But apparently that wasn’t enough to keep prices low.

According to a Reuters report, the company’s CEO told them it would raise prices to “compensate for rising memory costs.” You’re probably tired of hearing about it, but yes, it’s because of data centers and AI, which is an entirely different market from Lenovo’s bread and butter. The warning comes despite the company’s CFO saying in November that it was stockpiling memory and other critical components, saying Lenovo had enough for all of 2026. Two different statements at two different outlets from two different people at two different times, fine, but you can’t help but notice a bit of a discrepancy here.

A recent sales boom might be a bit more of an explanation. The PC market is currently experiencing a small but notable uptick, as consumers and businesses with spending flexibility attempt to buy before prices rise. But it’s February – Lenovo surely couldn’t have sold out any “stock” in two months, especially since most of the PCs it plans to sell this year aren’t even made yet. Lenovo is likely protecting itself as its advance purchases from suppliers dry up or their prices skyrocket, the same forces that are affecting other suppliers on a large scale. Small businesses, like Framework, are hit much harder because they have to pay prices closer to those of us ordinary consumers.

This is the macro view of the situation anyway. You could also be more cynical and point out that if the entire industry raises prices, Lenovo might just rise to the occasion to respond without much fear of blowback among consumers. Lenovo could simply keep its prices lower: Notably, it was the only desktop and laptop maker at CES willing to talk about pricing for upcoming models. But if I think like an executive, I would certainly be tempted to raise prices to increase profits a little, taking advantage of the fact that buyers have no real alternatives.

2026 continues to suck. Many interesting and varied ways, but especially for anyone who wants to buy things that beep.