RAM Price Surge Isn't Just Laptops: Why Refurbished Desktops & All-in-Ones Make Sense in 2026
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Most of the coverage on this year's component price hikes has focused on laptops, mostly because that is where most people shop. But the memory chip shortage pushing RAM and storage prices up by as much as 35% in 2026 hits desktops and all-in-ones just as hard, and in some configurations, harder. If you have been assuming a desktop upgrade is the cheaper route this year compared to a new laptop, it is worth checking that assumption against today's prices before you commit to anything.
The Memory Shortage Is Not a Laptop-Only Story
This shortage comes down to memory manufacturers redirecting production capacity toward AI data centre demand, and that has tightened supply across every device category that uses RAM and SSD storage: laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, all of it. No category is insulated. If anything, desktops and AIOs that ship with higher RAM as standard, 16GB or more is common on a machine aimed at home office or small business use, absorb a bigger chunk of the cost increase than an entry laptop that shipped with less memory to start with.
Why Desktops Feel the Price Surge Just as Hard
A new desktop built around today's component prices carries that cost increase straight into its listed price, same as a new laptop. But desktops get bought differently too. People often plan to add RAM or storage later, which made sense when memory prices were stable. Not anymore. With prices up sharply through 2026, that later upgrade now costs a lot more than it would have a year back, and that changes the math for anyone thinking of buying a lower-spec desktop now and topping it up down the line.
What a Refurbished Desktop Gets You Instead
A certified refurbished desktop sidesteps this the same way a refurbished laptop does. It was built and priced before this year's memory costs kicked in, so the RAM and storage are already baked into the machine rather than something you are paying current prices to add later. NewJaisa runs refurbished desktops through the same 10-step process and 72-point check as laptops, covering internal components, ports, overall function, backed by a warranty and a 14-day return window. For a home office setup, a small business workstation, or just a family desktop, a refurbished Dell or similar business-grade machine with 16GB RAM already in it is usually a stronger buy than a new entry-level desktop at the same price.
All-in-Ones: The Category Everyone Forgets to Compare
All-in-ones get skipped over in most laptop-versus-desktop comparisons, but they deserve a mention here. They combine a desktop's exposure to component costs with a laptop's lack of easy upgrades, since most AIOs are not built for you to open up and add memory later at all. That makes getting the configuration right upfront more important for an AIO than for almost any other category, and it is exactly where a certified refurbished AIO, tested and specced correctly from the start, saves you from a mistake that is expensive to fix on a new unit after the fact.
The Numbers That Make the Case
A new desktop or AIO at a given budget this year will typically come with less RAM and a weaker processor than the same money bought twelve months ago, simply because component costs are eating into what manufacturers can pack in at each price point. A certified refurbished desktop or AIO at that same budget was specced before this year's price jumps, which is why you will often find a refurbished business desktop with a stronger processor and more RAM than a new consumer desktop at a comparable price right now.
Final Thoughts from NewJaisa
The RAM price story in 2026 is not a laptop story, it is a device-wide one, and desktops and all-in-ones are just as exposed. A certified refurbished desktop or AIO, specced and tested before this year's cost increases hit, is worth comparing against a new machine at the same budget before you decide either way. Browse NewJaisa's refurbished desktop and all-in-one range and see what your budget actually gets you right now.
FAQ
1. Are desktop prices rising in 2026 the same way laptop prices are?
Yes. The memory chip shortage behind this year's RAM and storage price increases, up to 35% in some cases, hits every device category that uses standard RAM and SSD components, desktops and all-in-ones included, not just laptops. Desktops shipping with higher standard RAM configurations can actually take a bigger hit than entry laptops that carry less memory to begin with.
2. Is it cheaper to build or upgrade a desktop myself instead of buying refurbished?
Depends on timing, but with component prices where they are through 2026, buying RAM or storage upgrades right now costs noticeably more than it would have a year ago. A certified refurbished desktop that already has the RAM and storage you need, priced and built before this year's increases, often works out cheaper than buying a bare-bones new desktop and upgrading it yourself at today's prices.
3. What should I check before buying a refurbished desktop or all-in-one?
Ask the same questions you would ask for a refurbished laptop: what the testing process actually covers, the warranty period and what is included, whether components like the power supply and storage drive are original or replaced. For an all-in-one specifically, also confirm the screen has been checked for dead pixels and even backlighting, since AIO displays are built in and far pricier to replace than a standalone monitor.
4. Are all-in-one PCs upgradable later like desktops are?
Not really, or only in very limited ways. Most AIOs have components soldered or tightly packed into the chassis, which is part of how they stay so compact, but it also means the configuration you buy is close to the one you are stuck with. That is exactly why getting the spec right at purchase matters more for an AIO than it does for a tower desktop.
5. Is a refurbished desktop a good choice for a small business or home office?
Very often, yes. Business-grade desktops, Dell OptiPlex machines especially, get refurbished in large numbers as companies cycle their fleets, so there is a healthy supply of well-specced, well-tested units at a real discount to new. For a home office or small business that needs reliable performance without needing the newest hardware, a certified refurbished business desktop usually beats a new consumer-grade machine at the same price.
