A global RAM shortage has forced many PC makers to raise laptop prices over the past few months. Now, it’s Dell’s turn.
Select configurations of the new Dell XPS 14 have increased by 31 percent since it was introduced at the beginning of the year. Mashable first noticed the price changes in mid-May and confirmed them through a Dell spokesperson.
“We are managing this area in real time, using lessons learned from previous cycles and continuing to provide value to customers,” said a spokesperson. “We are differentiated by our scale, go-to-market model and long-term relationships with suppliers.”
The starting price for the XPS 14 was $1,599.99 on Dell’s website, making it cheaper than Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro. But now it costs $1,889.99 – a jump of $290. That’s a solid entry-level Windows laptop with an entry-level Intel Core Ultra 5 325 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid state drive (SSD) storage.
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Lenovo and Acer are quietly raising prices on their flagship Chromebooks by up to $250
The next-level XPS 14 with a slightly faster Core Ultra 7 355 CPU now costs $1,989.99 for the same amount of memory and storage. It used to cost $1,699.99, marking another $290 increase.
In the biggest change, the upgraded XPS 14 with premium Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, Intel Arc B390 graphics, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and OLED touchscreen display now costs $2,879.99, representing a $680 bump from its $2,199.99 launch price.
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Most prices for the larger Dell XPS 16 appear to be firm, though Mashable noted that the base model was listed for $2,279.99 on May 21 — a $240 increase from the initial price of $2,039.99. Dell was selling it at that low initial number when it was published on May 26.
Dell has relaunched its XPS laptop range at CES 2026.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
Dell announced at CES 2026 in January that it was reviving the XPS laptop brand, exactly one year after it tried to relaunch the questionably Apple-y. Since its Q1 release, the XPS 14 has earned rave reviews for its sleek design, solid performance, and gorgeous tandem OLED display option. But it was already expensive at its launch price, and these new measures make it a top seller.
Back to Dell’s statement: What is it about “this place” that makes laptops so expensive? You can blame the AI.
Data center construction increases the world’s RAM and SSD resources, making these components more expensive. In turn, many of the electronics that consumers rely on have also become more expensive – including laptops. This problem is called “RAMageddon.”
In April, Microsoft told Windows Central that it had raised the prices of its Surface devices by up to $500 due to “recent increases in memory and component costs.” Similar conditions have prompted Framework, a modular PC company, to adjust its RAM and SSD prices almost every month this year.
Earlier this month, Mashable reported that Lenovo and Acer both raised the prices of their flagship Chromebooks by $250. Lenovo did not get back to us, but an Acer spokesperson said the company is “using flexible pricing and promotional strategies to support demand and maintain product availability as component costs rise.”
Just last week, Dell announced that its new entry-level gaming laptop, the Alienware 15, will start at $1,299.99 – a higher price than expected. “Rising RAM costs are impacting prices across the industry,” a company executive told Mashable. “Alienware 15 is priced to compete with this new background.”
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