The Era of Affordable Tech Is Ending as AI Eats Global Memory Supply

As if inflation weren’t enough of a headache, your next gadget might soon cost as much as a used car. With AI behemoths “gobbling up” the global RAM supply, the era of bargain tech is hitting a wall. Compounded by war-driven shortages, this component crunch is forcing some into retreat, while others attack — or even quietly thrive.

• Effective Apr. 2, SonySONY
  is hiking PS5 prices by up to $150 while halting orders for most memory cards — a defensive play to protect hardware margins.
• Meanwhile, AppleAAPL
  unleashed a $599 pricing blitz with the MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e — leveraging its massive supply chain to undercut rivals.

The battlefield: Despite Apple’s push, experts warn electronics prices will climb 20% through 2027. That could effectively erase the $600 “budget” laptop, with basic machines starting near $900 and soon hitting $1.3K. To hide the hike, some dealers are selling systems with less RAM, but it’s a risky move since many modern laptops cannot be upgraded later. While you’re left checking the specs twice, the server giants effectively killing the bargain PC are thriving on the other side of the trade.