Windows laptops are having the best year ever, except for one massive catch
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Windows laptops have reached a new high in 2026, with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2, AMD Strix Halo, Intel's latest chips, and Nvidia's RTX Spark all competing in the same market. App compatibility on Arm has improved significantly, and the competitive landscape benefits consumers more than ever. However, a severe DRAM shortage has caused memory prices to roughly double in Q1 2026 with a further 63% surge in Q2, pushing laptop prices up by as much as 40%. Memory now accounts for ~35% of laptop costs versus a historical 15%, making this simultaneously the best and most expensive time to buy a Windows laptop. Previous-generation models may be the only affordable option for most buyers right now.
