PC prices are heading upward for the remainder of the year. In a recent interview with UDN, Acer Chairman Jason Chen warned that computer prices could climb between 5% and 20% before peaking next year. But cost relief might not arrive until 2027.
Rising hardware costs are pushing retail prices higher across the electronics industry. Specialized memory modules like DDR5X remain in short supply throughout the global market. Fortunately, Acer is sitting on a large reserve of memory components, which helps shield the company from immediate supply shocks. Chen expects memory component pricing to finally ease by 2027 as manufacturing catches up with demand.
Higher retail prices are actively squeezing consumer budgets and driving down sales volumes. Even so, people are not abandoning their computers in favor of smartphones. Buyers continue to purchase phones, tablets, and personal computers side by side. Devices serve different roles, so they do not easily replace one another.
Chen also pushed back against calls from tech executives to pause AI development. The technology moves too fast to stop, making practical oversight the real priority. Companies must learn to guide these systems rather than try to halt their rollout.
To protect against market swings, Acer has expanded into new business sectors. Personal computers now make up just 50% of the overall revenue generated by the firm. The remaining 50% comes from other business ventures. This split keeps the brand stable even when computer shipments take a temporary hit from higher retail pricing.
