A PC trade-in rush is on the way—and it’s coming at the worst possible time

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a surge in PC and laptop upgrades due to remote work and increased digital communication. Now, many of these pandemic-era devices are reaching the end of their useful lifespans, creating a need for replacements. However, consumers face a challenging market characterized by rising prices and limited performance improvements. Component prices, particularly RAM and storage, have significantly increased due to AI-driven demand. Video card prices remain elevated, impacting gamers, while Nvidia's potential absence of a new GPU generation fuels further concerns. The entry-level PC market, with options under $500, is projected to disappear by 2028. Analysts predict further price increases for PCs and related components in the near future. This situation could lead consumers to prolong device lifespans or, alternatively, rush to upgrade before prices rise further. Distributors seem to be expecting increased purchases, as PC shipments have risen in the first quarter of 2026. This increase, however, is attributed to inventory build-up in anticipation of future price hikes.