It was reported, according to Digitimes, that Intel plans to raise prices for its PC processors by 10% in October. The increase is said to be part of the company’s strategy to improve profitability in its PC processor business rather than use low prices to grow its market share. The report stated that Intel could lay off an additional 5% to 10% of its employees, while also hiring new employees during the same period. It was also claimed that Intel is considering bringing its Small Core series to end of life in the near future; this is noted to affect industrial computers and IoT technologies more than consumer computers. The price increase will come just one month after Qualcomm raised its chip prices on September 1. In July, Intel reported its strongest revenue growth in more than fifteen years, driven by its data center and artificial intelligence operations. As the ongoing component shortage pushes up the prices of RAM, laptops, and phones, it was stated that high prices could persist for years.
Why it matters
This development shows that cost pressures for computer manufacturers and consumers are not limited to a single component. Intel’s shift from an approach focused on increasing market share toward one that prioritizes profitability may require companies supplying processors to reassess their pricing and product plans. Possible changes to the Small Core series are particularly important for the continuity of system supplies used in industrial computers and IoT devices. The possibility of layoffs being raised alongside new hiring leaves open the question of which operations Intel is seeking to scale back and which it is trying to expand. The discussion of this move following Qualcomm’s price increase raises the possibility that costs in the chip market could be reflected in computer and phone prices through different manufacturers.
Background
Intel is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 4 reports mentioning the name in the past 90 days; the latest is dated September 8, 2026.