Acer CEO Jason Chen argues that the memory shortage will not last as long as expected and that manufacturers are making it appear longer than it is in order to maintain high profit margins. According to Chen, PC prices could rise by 5% to 20% in the final quarter of 2026; the decline is expected to begin in the second half of 2027. Increased capacity from Chinese memory manufacturers, particularly CXMT, could intensify competition. Prices, however, may take until 2028 to normalize.
Why it matters
This assessment brings the question of whether cost pressures will be lasting to the forefront for computer buyers and manufacturers. The Acer CEO’s view also points to how market statements should be interpreted, given the claim that manufacturers may portray the duration of the shortage differently in order to preserve high profit margins. Increased capacity among Chinese memory manufacturers stands out as a factor that could affect the course of prices by strengthening competition on the supply side. At the same time, it remains unclear to what extent changes in computer prices will be reflected in memory costs and how much of this pressure manufacturers will absorb. For this reason, the statement offers a framework that concerns both consumers’ purchasing timing and PC manufacturers’ pricing decisions, but whose realization depends on market conditions.
Background
CEO is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 19 news reports mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the most recent is dated September 28, 2026.