Mid-range notebooks could become almost 40 percent more expensive
Memory and mobile processors are increasing in price, soon accounting for most notebook production costs. Mid-range notebooks could become 40% pricier.
(Image: Andreas Wodrich / heise medien)
A notebook that previously cost up to 1000 euros could approach 1400 euros in the coming months. This conclusion is reached by the Taiwanese market observer Trendforce based on the price development of RAM (DRAM), SSDs, and mobile processors. Mid-range notebooks could therefore become almost 40 percent pricier.
Trendforce expects the cost share of DRAM, SSD, and CPU in production to soon rise to 58 percent. A year ago, it was still 45 percent. The share of DRAM and SSD is expected to increase from a traditional 15 to at least 30 percent. The total memory package would then exceed CPU costs for the first time.
Adding to the problem: If a manufacturer wants to maintain its previous margin, it passes on the additional costs and increases prices further. Margin is an important key figure for the stock market; if a manufacturer decides against a price increase at the expense of the margin, investors may penalize the company.
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Processor prices are also expected to rise
Intel has reportedly already increased prices by more than 15 percent for some entry-level processors and older generations. Mainstream and high-end models could follow in the coming months. According to previous reports, Intel has already reduced the production of notebook and desktop CPUs to increase the share of high-margin server models. For AMD processors too, the market observer considers supply bottlenecks to be realistic, which could lead to price increases.
The market researchers at Gartner already predicted the end of affordable notebooks. The price increases are hitting the class below 500 euros particularly hard. Apple is currently shaking up the 700-euro class with the MacBook Neo. Due to its sheer size, the manufacturer has a strong negotiating position with memory manufacturers, and price increases from Intel or AMD are irrelevant here. Apple has its own processors manufactured by the chip contract manufacturer TSMC.
Scarce packaging resources, i.e., the capacity for chip manufacturers and service providers to assemble processors, are likely to hit affordable notebooks even harder. Trendforce also sees a focus on high-end processors here (apart from server CPUs and AI accelerators for data centers).
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