Almost every gadget got pricier this year for one reason: the three companies that make most of the world's memory earn far more selling chips to AI data centers than to you, so they aimed their factories there. IDC estimates data centers will swallow around 70 percent of memory output in 2026, up from 20 to 30 percent not long ago. This is not a shortage in the hurricane sense; it is a decision.
The bill is on your receipt. DRAM contract prices rose 93 to 98 percent in a single quarter, SSD chips climbed roughly 8 to 9 times, and consoles, laptops, and GPUs jumped inside one year. Intel's CEO says the makers see no relief until 2028.
If you genuinely need a device, buying now is the rational read: next year's will likely cost more and ship with less. Otherwise keep what you have and repair it.
