Why Business Hardware Costs More Right Now (and What You Can Still Do About It)

If your last quote from Dell felt higher than the one before it, you are not imagining things. You are definitely not alone. The same story is playing out with HP, Lenovo, Cisco, and even the firewall sitting in your server closet. Nobody enjoys watching a hardware budget stretch further than planned. Let’s break down what is actually happening, and more importantly, what you can do about it.

It Is Not Just Dell, and It Is Not Personal

Business hardware prices have climbed noticeably in 2026. The pattern holds across nearly every major manufacturer and hardware category. Dell raised commercial list prices roughly 17 percent this spring. The company has since warned of further increases as high as 30 percent on memory heavy configurations.

HP and Lenovo have followed with their own adjustments. Cisco raised compute pricing twice in the first half of the year alone. Cisco’s own leadership has noted that networking appliances like switches and routers use less memory than servers. Those increases have been more modest by comparison.

Firewalls Have Not Been Spared Either

Sophos confirmed a 10 percent increase on its XGS firewall hardware line, effective July 1, 2026. Industry analysts have flagged similar cost pressure building at Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, and Check Point as their own component costs rise. If you have a firewall replacement or network upgrade coming up, plan for the same kind of pricing movement you would expect on a laptop order.

One Component Is Driving Most of It

The reason behind nearly all of it comes down to memory. DRAM chip pricing has surged in 2026 as AI data centers compete with PC manufacturers for the same limited manufacturing capacity. Tom’s Hardware reported that memory shortages tied to AI hyperscaler demand are the direct driver behind Dell’s pricing changes. Industry analysts expect the pressure to continue well into 2027.

None of this reflects poorly on Dell as a vendor. It also has nothing to do with the relationships we have built with our distribution partners over the years. Every manufacturer sourcing memory from the same handful of global suppliers is facing a version of the same squeeze.

Why Windows Made It a Little Worse

There is a second factor layered on top of the memory shortage. Windows 11 adoption pushed a wave of businesses to refresh hardware at the same time. Newer machines, especially those meeting Copilot+ PC standards, simply require more memory than the generation before them. That extra demand landed right as supply tightened. That timing is part of why this year has felt unusually unforgiving.

On a more encouraging note, Microsoft has said it is actively working to slim down how much memory Windows 11 itself needs to run. Future machines may not need quite as much just to keep the operating system comfortable.

The Part Nobody Loves to Hear: Waiting Rarely Helps

It is tempting to hold off on a purchase and hope prices settle back down. Most current forecasts point the other direction for at least the next several quarters. Memory suppliers are prioritizing capacity for AI infrastructure over consumer and commercial PC production. That said, markets like this one can shift faster than anyone expects. Delaying a purchase you genuinely need is a real gamble either way, so weigh it against the cost of waiting.

The good news is that “buy everything at list price today” is not the only alternative to waiting. There is real room to work within the system as it stands.

Practical Ways to Work Within the Current Market

Right size RAM by role, not by habit. Not every workstation needs the same configuration. A receptionist checking email and a graphic designer running Adobe Creative Cloud have very different memory needs. A tiered hardware standard keeps spend focused where it actually matters.

Compare distributor pricing before you commit. Dell Business Direct and distributors like Ingram Micro do not always land on the same number for an identical configuration. A quick comparison across sourcing channels can turn up meaningful savings, particularly on bulk or multi unit orders.

Batch your orders instead of buying piecemeal. Place one well planned order for a group of machines. Consider bundling a firewall replacement in with a broader network refresh. This approach often unlocks better volume pricing and gives your MSP more leverage when negotiating on your behalf.

Ask about price protection windows. Some vendors will hold a quoted price for a defined window if you commit early, even if delivery happens later. It is always worth asking before assuming the list price is the final word.

Extend the life of hardware that still has room to run. Not every machine nearing the end of its typical refresh cycle needs to be replaced immediately. A maintenance check, a memory or storage upgrade, or simply confirming security software is current can buy another year of useful life on select machines.

Talk to your MSP before you talk to your budget. This is genuinely the most valuable step. A managed services partner watches pricing trends across multiple vendors and distributors every day. That partner can often time a purchase, structure an order, or suggest a configuration a business would not think to ask for on its own.

The Bottom Line

Business hardware price increases are a real, industry wide shift. Whether it hits a laptop, a server, or a firewall, the cause is the same and it sits well outside any single vendor’s control. That does not make it any less frustrating, but it does make it navigable. Thoughtful planning, the right timing, and a partner who is paying close attention to the market can make a meaningful difference in what your business actually ends up paying.

Planning a hardware refresh or trying to figure out the smartest way to buy in this market? Artemis IT has spent 30-plus years helping Brevard County businesses make sound, practical hardware decisions. Reach out to our team and let’s build a plan that fits your budget and your business.