This 14-inch Lenovo laptop shows how expensive PCs with 32 GB RAM are becoming

"Affordable" definitely means different things to different people. As always, things are relative, but in general terms, we typically would not call laptops that cost more than $1,000 or €1,000 affordable.

Of course, this was the old status quo - before the memory and SSD prices started to explode in late 2025. As of now, even a laptop is prices above the magic mark can sometimes be considered affordable, depending on the configuration.

We recently reviewed the Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G9 IPL. If you do not know the ThinkBook line: the basic model are pretty much entry-level office laptops, without luxury features like nice screens or metal chassis designs. These laptops would usually retail well below the $1,000/€1,000 mark, but of course, in the year 2026, things have changed. The review device we tested, with a basic Core Ultra 5, WUXGA screen, 512 GB SSD and, notably, 32 GB RAM, retails for around €1,150 at the moment here in Germany.

Launch price comparison: 2025 vs. 2026 Lenovo ThinkBook

That is not out of reach for many buyers, but also not that cheap anymore. And taking a look at the predecessor reveals just how much the price has increased since 2025.

The older model was called Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G8 IAL, and it is still available from many resellers. We picked a model with a similar configuration to compare: Core Ultra 5, WUXGA LCD, 512 GB SSD and 32 GB RAM. Last generation, this model originally retailed for €868.

When the perspective model of the current ThinkBook laptop 14 G9 IPL launched, it cost €1,080 - about a 25 percent increase. Of course, prices have gone up even more since then, and they probably will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.

Still, the ThinkBook remains a relatively affordable way to get a laptop with 32 GB RAM. How much money would you be willing to spend on a laptop? And at which point would you stop considering a budget class laptop affordable? Tell us in the comments!