Report claims HP or Lenovo have reserved RAM from suppliers

If reports are true, HP or Lenovo have successfully reached agreements with Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron to lock in RAM supply moving into 2026. Amidst the ongoing RAM crisis seeing an exponential rise in memory costs due to the insatiable demands of AI, this move makes sense. If anything, it's a relief that one major consumer-facing PC brand or another would lock in a cut of RAM supply after OpenAI reserved an estimated 40% of it.

That said, the pricing and availability of computer memory is already in an abysmal state, so this won't be good news for everyone. Smaller PC makers can't possibly hope to make guaranteed supply deals with RAM manufacturers, and independent builders or DIY enthusiasts have virtually no recourse at all. Maingear, for example, launched a Bring Your Own RAM program in response to the RAM crisis. Last month, we reported that Lenovo had increased its memory stockpile by 50%, but Lenovo still forecasts price hikes in 2026. If Lenovo is indeed the major PC maker who inked this deal with the three memory manufacturers, this news bodes very poorly for the pricing of PCs from entry-level to high-end in 2026.

TrendForce, who brought this Yicai Global report to our attention, projects that DRAM and SSD costs will make up 23% of the bill of materials for high-end notebooks in 2026, and that more significant price fluctuations are due in Q2 2026. If Lenovo or HP really did get an exclusive allocation for RAM extending into or past next year, that brand may be insulated from the worst of price fluctuations coming to the PC memory market, but only time will tell just how long that insulation will last...or if consumers buying those laptops will see any of those savings. As a leading source of laptop and PC news and reviews, we will of course be monitoring the situation closely as it develops, but the tides are not optimistic.