Acer CEO Says PC Prices Could Fall by 2027, Accuses Memory Makers of Protecting Profits

Computer buyers facing rising PC prices may have some relief ahead, with Acer Chairman and CEO Jason Chen predicting that computer prices could begin falling by late 2027.

Chen’s outlook puts him at odds with several executives in the memory-chip industry, who have warned that shortages could continue for years.

Speaking in Taipei on September 19, Chen said Acer expects PC prices to rise by between 5% and 20% in the fourth quarter of 2026, depending on the configuration, with prices potentially reaching their peak during the first half of 2027 before beginning to decline.

His comments were reported by DigiTimes and subsequently covered by TechSpot, Tom’s Hardware and other technology publications.

The disagreement centres on the global shortage of memory chips, particularly DRAM, which has become more expensive as demand from artificial intelligence data centres has surged.

AI infrastructure requires huge quantities of memory and other advanced components. That increased demand has put pressure on supplies available for consumer electronics, including PCs, smartphones, graphics cards and gaming consoles.

According to TechSpot, DRAM prices have increased dramatically during the current shortage, pushing manufacturers to raise prices for products that use significant amounts of memory.

But Chen argues that the situation is not as severe as some memory manufacturers suggest.

He has disputed forecasts that the shortage could remain serious until 2030 or beyond, arguing that supplies of many mainstream memory products have already improved.

Tom’s Hardware reported that Chen believes shortages are now concentrated more heavily around high-end memory components, while mainstream DDR4 and DDR5 supplies have become less constrained.

Chen also pointed to increasing production from Chinese memory manufacturers as a factor that could eventually put downward pressure on prices.

One company attracting particular attention is ChangXin Memory Technologies, or CXMT.

TechSpot reported that CXMT has begun mass production of its latest DRAM technology platform, with new LPDDR5X products aimed at smartphones, laptops and other portable devices.

Greater supply and competition could eventually give computer manufacturers more options and reduce their dependence on expensive memory components.

Chen’s comments also challenge the warnings coming from other parts of the memory industry.

SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung has previously warned that memory supply could remain tight through 2030, while Adata Chairman Chen Li-bai has offered an even longer outlook for elevated prices.

Reuters reported earlier this month that smaller smartphone and laptop manufacturers are preparing for memory shortages that could last through at least 2027, with some industry forecasts extending the supply-demand imbalance beyond 2030.

This means there is currently no industry-wide agreement about when the memory shortage will end.
Chen has gone further by suggesting that some of the more pessimistic forecasts may help memory manufacturers maintain high profit margins.

His argument is that if companies convince customers that shortages will continue for many years, manufacturers can maintain stronger pricing.

That is Chen’s assessment, however, and it is disputed by other industry executives who point to continued demand from AI infrastructure and limited semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

For consumers, the immediate outlook remains difficult.

Acer expects PC prices to continue rising through late 2026 and into the first half of 2027 before potentially beginning to decline.

That means people hoping to buy a new laptop or desktop computer should not expect an immediate price reduction simply because Acer’s CEO is optimistic about the longer-term supply situation.

The situation also highlights how the AI boom is affecting everyday technology.

The enormous investment in AI data centres is increasing demand for processors, high-bandwidth memory and conventional memory. Those pressures are spreading through the supply chain and eventually reaching products used by ordinary consumers.

If Acer’s forecast proves correct, increased memory production and stronger competition could eventually bring some relief to PC buyers.

Acer is betting that relief will begin arriving in 2027.
The memory industry is not nearly as confident.