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Framework raises prices yet again as memory costs go up

Framework raises prices yet again as memory costs go up

Rising DRAM prices have pushed the price for the Framework Desktop upwards as well, the company said this week. “We held off on it as long as we could, but with LPDDR5x memory prices from our suppliers continuing to increase rapidly, we’ve had to update the pricing on Framework Desktop systems and Mainboards,” chief executive Nirav Patel said in an updated blog post . “The prices of 128Gbit parts (of which we use eight to get to 128GB) have spiked the most, impacting our very popular 128GB configuration.” When we reviewed the Framework Desktop at launch last year, Framework said that it would charge $1,099 for a system based upon the Ryzen AI Max 385, and $1,999 for one built upon the Max+ 395, which ships with 128GB of RAM soldered to the motherboard. At press time, those prices are now $1,139 and $2,459, respectively. “We were able to hold the 32GB and 64GB configurations closer to our original pricing, making both of these a pretty strong value for PC gaming in the current environment,” Patel said. Framework said that it’s just passing on the price increases to consumers, nothing more. Still, simply disclosing the prices is a positive; announcing PCs without prices was one of the unfortunate trends of CES 2026. “The memory outlook as we enter 2026 continues to get worse. From what we learned in meetings throughout the week at CES with suppliers, distributors, and partners, it’s clear that this is going to be a challenging year and possibly even years for consumers,” Patel said, echoing PCWorld’s own reporting which reached the same conclusions .

AMD's next-gen Ryzen AI 400 laptops could launch on January 22, five days ahead of Panther Lake — Gorgon Point release date leaks through early Asus listing in China

AMD's next-gen Ryzen AI 400 laptops could launch on January 22, five days ahead of Panther Lake — Gorgon Point release date leaks through early Asus listing in China

AMD announced the Ryzen AI 400 series at CES with a Q1 2026 launch window, but apparently the first laptops in China to feature Gorgon Point are coming as soon as January 22, 2026. An official Asus listing in the region has shown off a new laptop with the Ryzen AI 7 445 inside set to drop in just a few days.

PC sales surged in Q4 because everyone’s scared of memory shortages

PC sales surged in Q4 because everyone’s scared of memory shortages

It’s like tariffs all over again. IDC said this week that preliminary fourth-quarter global PC sales grew 9.6 percent year over year, reaching a total of 76.4 million units. But those sales weren’t quite real: They were PCs that were built and sold before the ongoing memory crunch and any tariffs worsen. A year ago, IDC also found that the PC market experienced positive growth , as vendors rushed PCs out the door and into retailers hands before the Trump administration tariffs kicked in. That, combined with the lingering effects of the Windows 10 upgrade cycle, helped push sales upwards. “IDC expects that the PC market will be far different in 12 months given how quickly the memory situation is evolving,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, in a statement.“Beyond the obvious pressure on prices of systems, already announced by certain manufacturers, we might also see PC memory specifications be lowered on average to preserve memory inventory on hand. The year ahead is shaping up to be extremely volatile.” The difference is that tariffs were and are a uniquely American phenomenon, constraining U.S. PC growth. Throughout 2025, for example, IDC marked U.S. PC growth that ended the year at 4 percent versus 14 percent in the Europe and Middle East region. “Memory shortages are affecting the entire industry, and the impact will likely reshape market dynamics over the next two years,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, in a statement. “Large consumer electronics brands are well positioned to leverage their scale and memory allocations to capture shares from smaller and regional vendors. However, the severity of the shortage raises the risk that smaller brands may not survive, and consumers, particularly DIY enthusiasts, may delay purchases or shift their spending to other devices or experiences.” IDC has said before that it expects the average price of a PC to rise in 2026. Now, the firm added that it believes that PC makers will push harder to sell premium and mid-range systems to help offset the cost of memory. IDC named Lenovo as its preliminary winner in terms of shipments, selling 70.8 million PCs throughout 2025, up 14.5 percent from a year ago, and capturing 24.9 percent of the market. HP and Dell finished second and third, respectively, with 20.2 percent and 14.4 percent of the market.

Pick up Apple's MacBook Air at up to $600 off, with prices as low as $599

Pick up Apple's MacBook Air at up to $600 off, with prices as low as $599

MacBook Air discounts deliver prices as low as $599, with standard and upgraded models up to $600 off. Save up to $600 on MacBook Air laptops this week - Image credit: Apple Apple's MacBook Air is a popular choice among consumers due to its budget-friendly price and thin-and-light design — and retailers are discounting current and closeout models by up to $600 . Save up to $600 on MacBook Air Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums