Acer CEO predicts peak PC prices by mid-2025 and their subsequent decline
- PC prices will peak by mid-2025.
- The shortage of DDR4/DDR5 will decrease due to new capacities.
- Processors are available in sufficient quantities, the limitation is only on budget models.
- Memory suppliers predict a shortage until 2028.
In an interview with Economic Daily News, Acer's chairman and CEO Jason Chen shared his assessment of the current state of the personal computer market. According to him, in the upcoming quarter, PC prices may rise by five to twenty percent, but by mid-2025, they will peak and then start to decline.
Chen emphasized that the shortage of DDR4 and DDR5 memory is less acute than often reported in industry reviews. In his opinion, new production lines that are already being introduced will significantly increase supply volumes and relieve the market of a prolonged shortage, which, he said, will not last until 2030.
The situation with central processors, according to an Acer representative, is more favorable. High-performance models are available in sufficient quantities, while supply constraints are only observed in the mid-range and entry-level segments. This is explained by the fact that component manufacturers prefer to ship products at higher prices, while end customers, particularly Acer clients, are not willing to pay such amounts.
The impact of the amount of installed memory on the final cost of PCs is particularly noticeable. The more memory modules included in the configuration, the greater the price increase will be in the coming months. A similar trend is observed with solid-state drives (SSDs), the prices of which are also under pressure.
However, memory manufacturers are giving more skeptical forecasts. According to their estimates, 2024 will be challenging: demand will exceed supply, and existing long-term contracts with suppliers do not allow for a quick increase in production volumes. Intel representatives confirm that the memory shortage may persist at least until 2028.
Context and consequences
The current rise in PC prices is linked to global supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and geopolitical tensions. The sustained increase in component costs is intensifying inflationary pressure on consumers and slowing down the upgrade of IT infrastructure in the business sector.
If Acer's forecast proves correct, a price drop after mid-2025 could stimulate demand, especially in the education and public sector segments, where budgets are tight. At the same time, manufacturers that can adapt their supply chains to the new conditions will gain a competitive advantage.
Source: 3DNews
