The global memory crisis that has already pushed smartphone prices higher is now hitting the notebook market, with Chinese brand Lenovo emerging as an early and visible brand that is moving to shift prices upward with the price of their Chinese developed notebook already rising in key overseas markets.

New data suggests Lenovo notebook pricing are rising well ahead of inflation, driven by soaring costs for memory and storage components as chipmakers redirect fabrication capacity toward AI data-centre hardware. Analysts warn this is only the beginning, particularly as AI-capable notebooks become the new industry baseline.

As set to be impacted is Lenovo’s Motorola brand as they try to push into the premium end of the smartphone market.

According to a report from Inews24, the average price of a mid-range Lenovo laptop in the US stood at US$799 in 2025, but has climbed 12.6 per cent year-on-year in 2026.

Higher-end Lenovo systems — typically configured with 32GB of RAM and 1TB or more of storage — are expected to see even steeper increases.

Industry analysts say Lenovo’s pricing trajectory reflects a broader structural problem facing PC makers, but note the Chinese-owned company has moved early to pass rising costs onto consumers.

AI Memory Demand Drains Consumer Supply

At the heart of the issue is a dramatic surge in demand for DRAM and NAND flash memory, as hyperscale data centres and AI servers consume vast quantities of the same components used in notebooks and smartphones.

Memory manufacturers are prioritising higher-margin AI infrastructure orders over consumer PC components, creating a global supply shortage. As a result, RAM and SSD prices have climbed sharply, directly inflating notebook manufacturing costs.

Major PC vendors, including Lenovo, are now expected to lift notebook prices by as much as 20 per cent, according to supply chain sources.

This shift is also squeezing retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and specialist PC resellers, as AI-driven component demand continues to outbid traditional consumer markets.

Lenovo Under Scrutiny Over Messaging and Media Strategy

While Lenovo has positioned its price increases as an unavoidable result of global supply pressures, the company’s media strategy has drawn criticism.

The Chinese technology giant has been accused of engaging in selective media access and coverage, particularly in overseas markets, as it seeks to control the narrative around rising prices and AI integration — including systems capable of running China-developed DeepSeek AI software, which has raised concerns in some regions.

At CES 2026, a significant number of mainstream Australian journalists were reportedly excluded from Lenovo’s global product briefings, including launches tied to Motorola. Requests for access were ignored.

Lenovo’s PR agency, Herd MSL, has previously been accused of misleading journalists about global press events, including denying the existence of a Lenovo briefing at IFA Berlin, despite a major press session taking place.

Several journalists from mainstream media and TV networks were excluded from Lenovo and Motorola launches at CES 2026 despite Chinese, US and European journalists being invited.

Intel Panther Lake Launch Adds Pressure

The pricing pressure comes as brands including Lenovo, ASUS, HP, and Dell prepare to launch notebooks built on Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake chipset.

While manufacturers are promoting gains in AI performance and CPU efficiency, analysts say the real cost driver is the additional memory and storage required to support AI workloads — not just faster processors.

Last year’s industry-wide push toward higher-performance notebooks, marketed heavily around “AI capability,” has already raised average selling prices. That trend is now accelerating as entry-level configurations disappear.

Geopolitics, Tariffs, and Manufacturing Shifts Add Costs

Compounding the problem are geopolitical tensions and semiconductor tariffs, which are forcing manufacturers to reconfigure supply chains and absorb higher production costs.

To mitigate risk, many brands — including Lenovo competitors — are shifting production from China to countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, a move that typically increases per-unit manufacturing costs in the short term. Google recently confirmed it will manufacture future Pixel smartphones in Vietnam, highlighting the scale of the shift.

Although shipping costs have eased since pandemic-era peaks, logistics disruptions over recent years continue to be factored into pricing as manufacturers attempt to protect margins.

Not Just Lenovo — But Lenovo First

Lenovo is not alone. LG’s latest Gram Pro AI 2026 notebook, featuring a 16-inch display, Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, now carries a maximum retail price of US$2,345 in South Korea, exceeding the cost of its 2025 predecessor.

However, analysts say Lenovo’s early price hikes may signal what consumers can expect across the wider notebook market in 2026 — higher prices, fewer entry-level options, and a growing premium attached to AI-branded hardware.

For buyers, the message is clear: the era of affordable notebooks may be coming to an end, and Lenovo is showing how fast prices can rise when AI demand collides with global supply constraints.