MSI is planning to raise the price of its laptop and gaming gear by a huge margin

The gaming hardware maker says soaring memory costs and supply shortages are forcing major price adjustments

By Varun Mirchandani Published March 15, 2026

The MSI Titan 18 open on a table. — Luke Larsen / Digital Trends

Buying a gaming laptop or GPU might soon become significantly more expensive, especially if you’re looking at MSI hardware. According to Economic Daily News, MSI has indicated that it plans to raise prices for gaming laptops, desktops, and graphics cards by roughly 15% to 30% as the company grapples with soaring component costs.

The announcement reportedly came during an investor briefing, where executives acknowledged mounting pressure from the ongoing global memory shortage. The update was shared by MSI General Manager Huang Jinqing, who warned investors that the broader PC market could shrink by 10% to 20% in 2026 due to ongoing component shortages and rising manufacturing costs.

Why is MSI preparing to raise prices?

The main pressure point is the global memory shortage, which has driven the price of DRAM modules sharply higher over the past year. As per the report, MSI currently has only one to two months of secure memory inventory, creating uncertainty around future production planning.

At the same time, major DRAM suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix are reportedly reluctant to commit to long-term supply agreements, making it harder for manufacturers to lock in stable component pricing. What’s more is that the surge is not restricted just to laptops. MSI executives indicated that the rising component prices could also impact prebuilt gaming desktops and handheld gaming devices, both of which rely heavily on DRAM availability.

How is MSI responding to the market slowdown?

Alongside price hikes, MSI appears to be adjusting its broader product strategy. During the briefing, Huang said the company plans to prioritize higher-end products while reducing focus on lower-margin hardware. The strategy could shift MSI’s lineup toward more premium gaming systems where higher prices are easier to justify.

MSI is also ramping up production of AI servers to capitalize on booming demand for AI infrastructure, hoping the data-center business can offset volatility in the consumer PC market. However, if component shortages continue through 2026, gamers may soon face noticeably higher prices for laptops, GPUs, and other PC hardware.

Varun Mirchandani

Varun is an experienced technology journalist and editor with over eight years in consumer tech media. His work spans…

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