If your 2027 device refresh plan was built on last year’s pricing, it needs a second look. New laptops and desktops cost more than they did a year ago, and the forecast does not point to relief soon.
The short answer
New PCs cost more in 2026 because memory and component prices have climbed, and the industry does not expect a fast reversal. For enterprise IT teams, each new device takes a bigger bite out of the budget. Repairing the devices you already own is the most direct way to hold refresh spending for the machines that need replacing, without leaving employees on broken hardware.
Why are new PCs getting more expensive?
Memory is the main driver. Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers are absorbing a growing share of memory supply, and the same chips go into laptops and desktops. Manufacturers are passing those costs into system prices and steering buyers toward configurations that protect their margins.
The effect is showing up across the market. Counterpoint Research data reported by Channel Insider puts third-quarter 2026 shipments down 21% year over year, with flat volumes expected in 2027. Flat does not mean cheaper. A market that stops shrinking can still carry higher prices.
Why does this matter for enterprise IT teams?
Your refresh budget buys fewer devices than it did a year ago. Lower demand will not bring prices down on its own, because memory costs are setting the floor. Budget from confirmed vendor quotes rather than counting on discounts from a soft market.
Manufacturers are steering toward configurations that absorb component inflation, so lower-cost options may get harder to find. That leaves IT leaders with a sorting problem. Some devices need replacing this cycle. Many others can stay in service for another year or two if they get the right repair at the right time.
The organizations that come through this period in good shape will be the ones that know which devices fall into which group.
Is it cheaper to repair a business laptop than to replace it?
In most cases, yes, as long as the device still meets your operating system, security, and performance requirements. A failed battery, cracked display, worn keyboard, or faulty port costs a fraction of a new machine to fix, and that gap widens as new-device prices climb.
The savings go beyond the part itself. A repaired device comes back to the same employee with the same setup, so you skip the work of sourcing, imaging, enrolling, and shipping a replacement. The user loses less time adjusting to new hardware. Keeping devices in service longer cuts e-waste and supports sustainability goals your organization may report on.
Check warranty coverage before you assume a repair will cost anything. Many repairs under a manufacturer warranty or an extended protection plan carry no parts or labor charge, which makes repair the clear choice for covered devices. Tracking warranty status across the fleet helps you use that coverage before it expires.
Memory deserves its own note. On many laptops, adding memory or storage can extend a device’s useful life, though rising memory prices make those upgrades pricier than they were. Where memory is built in and cannot be upgraded, the right configuration at purchase and dependable hardware repair do the work of extending lifespan.
How should IT teams decide what to repair, upgrade, or replace?
Start with data on the fleet you have, then spend where it changes outcomes. This sequence works for mixed Apple and Windows environments:
- Inventory every device. Capture model, age, assigned user, warranty status, and repair history in your IT asset management (ITAM) system.
- Check operating system and application fit. Flag devices that cannot run supported operating system versions or your core applications at acceptable speed.
- Sort the fleet into repair, upgrade, and replace groups. Devices with fixable hardware faults go to repair. Devices that need more memory or storage go to upgrade where the hardware allows it. Devices that fail compatibility or security requirements go to replace.
- Match new purchases to real workloads. Routine office work does not need top-tier configurations. Reserve higher-memory systems for the roles that use them.
- Phase replacements. Separate urgent replacements from purchases that can wait a quarter or two, and lock in pricing only when you are ready to commit.
- Retire devices with care. Wipe data to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-88 standard and recover value from devices with resale life left in them.
The goal is a refresh plan you can defend to finance: every dollar spent on new hardware goes to a device that needs it.
How ComputerCare helps you get more life from your devices
ComputerCare repairs, manages, and supports enterprise device fleets across Apple and other PC brands, so IT teams can extend device life without adding work for their staff.
Repair across brands. Most enterprise fleets mix Apple devices with Windows laptops and desktops from several manufacturers. ComputerCare repairs devices across those brands, so you can work with one partner instead of juggling a different repair path for each manufacturer.
Apple expertise. As an Apple Authorized Service Provider, we repair Apple devices with genuine Apple parts, backed by technicians trained to Apple’s standards. As an Apple Authorized Reseller, we can source new Apple devices when replacement is the right call.
Lifecycle services from start to finish. Beyond repair, ComputerCare supports IT asset management, deployment, device retrieval, and IT asset disposition (ITAD). When devices reach end of life, our ITAD services handle secure data wiping to NIST 800-88, resale or recycling, and value recovery, so devices leave your fleet without leaving your data behind.
When new hardware costs more, the device that gets fixed and goes back to work is the one that protects your budget.
Frequently asked questions
Why are PC prices going up in 2026?
Memory and component costs have risen, and manufacturers are passing those costs into system prices. Demand for memory in AI data centers competes with PC supply, which keeps pressure on prices even as PC shipments fall.
Will PC prices come down in 2027?
Industry analysts expect 2027 PC shipments to stay flat with 2026, which signals a market that has stopped shrinking, not one where prices have reset. IT teams should budget from confirmed vendor quotes rather than expect a drop.
How do I know if a laptop is worth repairing?
A laptop is worth repairing when it runs a supported operating system, handles its user’s workload, and has a fault that costs less to fix than to replace. Batteries, displays, keyboards, and ports are common repairs that extend a device’s working life.
Can you upgrade the memory on an Apple laptop?
Apple laptops with Apple silicon use unified memory built into the chip, so memory cannot be added after purchase. Choose the configuration each role needs at the time of purchase, and rely on repair to keep the device in service.
Can one provider repair devices from different manufacturers?
Yes. Some repair providers service multiple brands, which lets IT teams manage repairs for Apple and Windows devices through one relationship and one process. ComputerCare repairs devices across brands and is an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
What happens to data on devices that are retired?
Devices leaving the fleet should be wiped to a recognized standard such as NIST 800-88 before resale, recycling, or disposal. ComputerCare’s data wiping follows NIST 800-88.
Plan your next refresh around repair
Before you approve your next round of hardware purchases, find out how many of those devices could go back to work with a repair. Talk to ComputerCare about repair for your mixed-brand fleet and a review that separates what needs replacing from what needs fixing. Call 1-866-706-0218 or contact us at computercare.net.
