AMD and Nvidia GPUs are expected to increase in price during 2026 as demand outpaces production capacity.

Multiple supply-chain sources indicate that AMD is set to raise GPU prices by at least 10% starting January 2026, with NVIDIA appearing poised to follow shortly thereafter, likely in February 2026. AMD has already informed its board partners about a roughly 10% price increase across its Radeon RX lineup, with initial adjustments taking effect at the factory gate or AIB level as early as January 2026. Early distributor-level increases are already visible, such as a $10 bump per 8GB of VRAM on existing Radeon RX 9000 boards, with further increases scheduled as the new year progresses. NVIDIA board partners are similarly bracing for price increases, tied to the same cost pressures AMD is facing.

The root cause traces to a prolonged squeeze in global memory markets. DRAM and GDDR variants—the memory chips that make GPUs tick—are in short supply thanks to surging AI data-center demand, reallocation toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and tight fab capacities among Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. With DRAM prices climbing and GDDR6/GDDR7 spot prices elevated, GPU makers face higher input costs. Since manufacturers like AMD typically bundle memory with their GPU silicon before sending boards downstream, those costs are being passed to partners and eventually to consumers. Broader PC-industry forecasts suggest that electronics prices across the board could rise 15–20% in 2026 due to memory scarcity and prioritization of chips toward the AI sector.

Unverified rumors suggest that next-generation RTX 5090 pricing could reach as high as $5,000 in the US if trends continue. Globally, a 10–20% hike at source is significant; however, in markets like India, the GPU price impact could be even steeper once import duties, thin inventories, and weak currency dynamics are factored in. Retail prices could climb 15–30% year-over-year, especially in the high end where VRAM counts—and therefore memory costs—are highest. Flagship models like the RTX 5090 or RX 9070 XT could see very sharp premium pricing, with effective street prices climbing to levels that make current MSRPs look inexpensive by comparison. Mid-range cards may follow a similar pattern, potentially shifting the entire gaming PC purchase calculus toward laptops, consoles, or prebuilt systems if discrete GPUs become too expensive.

PC builders and buyers should consider purchasing before the first quarter of 2026 ends, as memory prices are unlikely to retreat quickly and GPU supply chains are already signaling cost moves. With the window to lock in pre-hike prices closing fast, those planning an upgrade or build should seriously consider buying sooner rather than later.