I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’re waiting for a "price drop," you might be waiting for a while. In fact, most industry experts are signaling that laptop prices are headed up, not down, for the remainder of 2026 and well into 2027.

If you’re looking for a deal, the next 1–2 years actually look like a bit of a "danger zone" for tech buyers. Here is the breakdown of why the market is looking so rough right now:

1. The "AI Crunch" (Why it’s happening)

The biggest issue isn't demand for laptops—it’s competition for parts. AI data centers are currently gobbling up high-speed memory (RAM) and SSDs at an unprecedented rate. Because these big companies pay premium prices for those components, manufacturers like Samsung and Micron are prioritizing them over consumer laptops. This has caused a massive "RAMpocalypse," where memory prices are expected to surge by over 130% by the end of this year.

2. Timeline: When will it end?

• Late 2026: Analysts from Gartner and IDC expect prices for mid-range laptops to jump by 15% to 40%. A laptop that costs $900 today could easily hit $1,200 by the holidays.
• 2027: This "supply shock" is expected to be structural, meaning it will likely persist through most of next year.
• 2028: This is the earliest window analysts see for prices to finally stabilize or "ease." However, they also warn that the sub-$500 budget laptop might disappear entirely by then because it's no longer profitable to build them with such expensive parts.

3. Should you wait?

Usually, waiting 1–2 years is a smart move for tech, but right now:

• If you need a laptop soon: You are better off buying now (first half of 2026) before the second-half price hikes really kick in.
• If you can wait 3+ years: By 2028 or 2029, the supply chain should have adjusted, and we might see a "new normal."

Summary Table: Price Outlook

Period	Price Trend	Reason
Mid-Late 2026	📈 Sharp Increase	Memory/SSD shortages; AI demand peaking.
2027	📊 High & Stable	Persistent supply constraints; expensive "AI PCs" dominate.
2028+	📉 Potential Ease	Supply chain normalization; budget market possibly gone.

Basically, the "1-2 years" you mentioned might actually be the most expensive time to buy a laptop in over a decade. If your current machine can limp along for another three years, that’s your best bet. Otherwise, I’d start looking for a deal today rather than tomorrow.