REDMOND, Washington, April 14, 2026, 04:14 PDT.
Microsoft just bumped up U.S. prices on its Surface PCs, with some versions now $500 more expensive—a move tied to pricier hardware as memory supplies tighten. The 13-inch Surface Pro and the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop each start at $1,499.99 on Microsoft’s store. The 12-inch Surface Pro comes in at $1,049.99.
This shift signals the DRAM shortage—those memory chips responsible for running active computer tasks—has spilled over from supply deals to actual finished products. TrendForce figures put conventional DRAM contract prices up a staggering 90% to 95% in the first quarter versus the previous one. IDC, for its part, now projects global PC shipments dropping 11.3% for 2026 as sticker shock sets in.
Microsoft is bumping up prices across its current-gen hardware lineup, a company spokesperson confirmed to Windows Central, blaming “recent increases in memory and component costs.” On Microsoft’s U.S. site, the 15-inch Surface Laptop now carries a $1,599.99 tag, while the 13-inch version sits at $1,149.99. Windows Central
Prices have been edging up for a while. Last year, Microsoft swapped out its original $999 base models for higher-storage options, but this latest round is a bigger leap: the top-end 13-inch Surface Pro and 13.8-inch Surface Laptop now each cost around $500 more than when they launched in 2024. The 12-inch Surface Pro? That’s up about $250 from its 2025 debut.
Surface faces stiffer competition from Apple in the premium laptop space. Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 is priced from $1,099 stateside, with the 15-inch version at $1,299. The MacBook Neo, introduced last month at $599, now marks Apple’s entry tier at a much lower price.
Analysts have been flagging this for months. Back in January, Jacob Bourne at eMarketer told Reuters the shortage “is certainly going to show up as higher prices for consumers.” Lately, Kim Sunwoo, senior analyst at Meritz Securities, pointed to buyers scrambling to lock in supply before more hikes, a move that’s only driven contract prices higher. Reuters
Competitors aren’t immune. Back in February, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing told Reuters that the world’s top PC maker bumped up prices to counter pricier memory, but still sees PC unit sales coming under strain. Reuters also noted TrendForce’s prediction: early-2026 price hikes on the way for both Dell and Lenovo.
Microsoft faces a clear trade-off here: raising prices could help protect margins, but risks pushing away buyers. According to IDC, the PC industry should still see revenue climb this year, thanks to higher average selling prices, despite shrinking unit shipments. Should memory prices drop quicker than forecast, Microsoft might be forced into steeper discounts. If costs hold steady, though, that could prompt more customers to postpone upgrades or opt for cheaper alternatives.
Prices are making the crunch obvious. On Microsoft’s site, the latest Surface lineup starts at $1,049.99 for the 12-inch Surface Pro, climbing to $1,599.99 for the 15-inch Surface Laptop. The priciest model—a 15-inch with 64GB RAM and 1TB storage—commands $3,649.99. What started as a squeeze in memory contracts has worked its way straight into those price tags.
