Laptop buyers will face a difficult market in 2027 as core component expenses climb. Market research firm TrendForce reports that computer makers must soon choose between raising shelf prices, downgrading hardware specifications, or absorbing steep profit losses. Global shipments could drop by up to 9% if brands decide to pass these rising component bills directly to shoppers.
Laptop makers kept retail pricing steady throughout 2026 by relying on stockpiled components purchased at older prices. Consumers also rushed to purchase new hardware earlier than scheduled. That temporary buffer is now ending. TrendForce projects that global shipments will decline in 2027, warning of drops between 7% and 9% if memory and processor pricing fails to cool down.
Rising production expenses hit everyday consumer machines hardest. By the third quarter of 2026, the central processor, system memory, and solid state drive accounted for roughly 68% of total component expenses on a laptop with a $900 retail sticker. Hardware brands have very little room to absorb those figures without losing money. Cutting internal hardware by reducing memory or installing cheaper storage offers 1 way to control expenses, but it risks alienating buyers looking for long term performance.
Factory geography is complicating supply chains further. TrendForce data shows that the share of laptops produced outside China fell from 24% in 2025 to 21% in 2026. The firm expects that number to drop below 20% in 2027. With global personal computer sales already falling, brands have limited options as they attempt to balance assembly costs against tightening consumer budgets.
