Windows licence prices could rise as PC memory chip costs increase

As the PC market faces a memory chip shortage that is pushing up prices, a rumour suggests that Microsoft has also introduced an unusual increase in the price of its Windows licence.

If you feel that smartphones and PCs are becoming more expensive, there is a reason for it. The rollout of new artificial intelligence infrastructure has created an imbalance between supply and demand in the memory chip market. As a result, RAM and storage for our electronic devices now cost more. The effect on prices is substantial: IDC forecasts that average PC selling prices will rise by 18.3% in 2026, chiefly because of higher memory chip prices.

Memory chip shortages put PC prices under pressure

The situation is not expected to improve in the short term, as the shortage is forecast to continue until the end of 2027. Windows-based machines could also face another factor likely to worsen matters. While computer manufacturers are already having to give up part of their margins to offset rising memory chip costs, a rumour indicates that Microsoft may also be raising the price of the licence required to install Windows on PCs.

According to Windows Central, Taiwanese outlet United Daily News reports that Microsoft has raised the price of its licence at a higher-than-usual rate. For some PC manufacturers, the increase is said to range from 7% to 10%. It is not yet known how this will affect the market. However, if the information is accurate, the higher cost of the Windows licence, which can differ from one brand to another, could intensify the pressure facing manufacturers.

The affordable PC is on the way out

In any case, price rises threaten the entire affordable PC segment. That was the prediction made by Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, in February. Taking the current situation into account, he explained that “the entry-level PC segment below $500 will disappear by 2028”.

Even if the memory chip market later restores the balance between supply and demand through new production capacity, device prices may not fall again. “Prices are unlikely to return to their 2025 levels, even if memory capacity eventually increases,” IDC said in the report it published in June.