If you are planning to buy computers, servers, or other IT equipment this year, budget more than you did last year. Significantly more. Hardware prices have been climbing sharply in 2026 and the trend is not expected to reverse soon.
What Is Happening
Major technology vendors have increased the cost of laptops, servers, and other hardware by roughly 15-20%. The primary driver is not traditional inflation — it is a global shortage of memory chips caused by explosive demand from AI infrastructure. Data centers supporting AI systems require massive amounts of advanced memory, and chip manufacturers are prioritizing those high-margin orders.
Reports suggest that up to 70% of global memory production in 2026 will be used by AI data centers, leaving just 30% for all other devices combined. DRAM prices have surged over 170% year-over-year. SSDs, which are in virtually every laptop, desktop, and server, have climbed sharply as well. Tariffs on electronics from major manufacturing regions are compounding the problem, with some accessories rising 25% or more.
What This Means for Las Vegas Small Businesses
If your business has a hardware refresh planned this year, you are going to pay more than expected. Analysts predict average PC prices will rise around 8% in 2026, with server and workstation costs climbing faster.
The pressure is especially acute for businesses that postponed Windows 10 upgrades hoping to get one more year out of older equipment. Those businesses are now facing higher costs, fewer model choices, and compressed timelines — all at once. Lead times are also extending. Equipment that used to ship in two to three weeks is now taking six to eight weeks in some categories.
What To Do Right Now
Buy sooner rather than later if you have planned purchases. Prices are expected to continue rising through at least mid-2026. Locking in equipment now protects you from the next wave of increases.
Extend lifecycles on equipment that does not need replacing. Not every three-year-old laptop needs to be replaced this year. Evaluate what is actually underperforming versus what is just aging on paper.
Consider cloud and managed services for workloads that do not require local hardware. Moving storage, backup, and some compute workloads to the cloud can reduce your hardware footprint and insulate you from price volatility.
Build a 15-25% contingency into your IT budget. If your hardware budget was based on 2024 pricing, it needs to be revised upward before you start placing orders.
Talk to your IT provider before making purchases. An experienced team can help you identify where to spend, where to wait, and whether previous-generation hardware might deliver what you need at a lower price point.
Brydan Solutions helps Las Vegas businesses plan IT purchases strategically — so you are not overspending in a volatile market or getting caught short when something fails. Reach out for a free assessment.