Recent alerts have highlighted an impending severe memory shortage, dubbed RAMaggedon. The International Data Corporation (IDC) had previously issued warnings about challenging conditions by late 2025. In its most recent update, IDC has reduced its outlook for the 2026 global PC market, projecting a decline of 11.6% in shipments. Earlier estimates had foreseen a drop of as much as 8.9% this year, attributed to continued supply constraints in memory components. This revised projection predates heightened tensions in Iran and the broader Middle East region, events that may exacerbate pressures on the computing sector and related fields.
"Supply disruptions in memory will continue through at least 2027," stated Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, in the updated analysis. "We expect price relief to start appearing in 2028, though it's improbable that rates will revert to those observed in 2025."
The analysis aligns with cost fluctuations and announcements emerging from various parts of the technology and PC industries. Throughout the current year, escalating expenses for memory have already affected companies including HP, Samsung, Valve, and Framework. It would not be unexpected for additional prominent firms to experience similar effects.