RAM crisis drives price hikes for Surface laptops and Samsung Galaxy devices
April 14, 2026
A squeeze on memory components is translating into price increases for both Microsoft’s Surface line and Samsung’s Galaxy devices. Reports show Surface laptops and Pro tablets seeing notable bumps, while Samsung’s phones and tablets aren’t spared.
What’s changing for Microsoft Surface devices
- Surface Laptop 13.8-inch: previously started at $999; now listed at $1,499 with 16GB of RAM.
- Surface Laptop 15-inch: price up to $1,599, a $300 jump from launch.
- Surface Pro 13-inch: price raised by $500.
- Surface Pro 12-inch: up by $250.
- Surface Laptop 13-inch (entry-level): up by $300.
- Top-spec Surface Pro 13-inch: 64GB RAM and 1TB SSD now priced around $3,649.
- Microsoft confirmed the changes: pricing is being updated on Microsoft.com due to higher memory and component costs, and the company emphasizes value, quality, and innovation.
What’s changing for Samsung Galaxy devices
- Galaxy Z Flip 7 (512GB): price increased from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99.
- Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB): price increased from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99.
- Galaxy S25 FE (256GB): price increased from $709.99 to $749.99.
- Galaxy tablets: models like Tab S11, Tab S10, and Tab A11 in the US have seen price hikes ranging from $100 to nearly $300; Tab S11 Ultra with 1TB RAM/SSD is up from $1,619.99 to $1,899.99.
Context and reaction
- The price moves for Samsung’s phones are relatively modest compared with the Surface bumps, though the delta is still noticeable for buyers.
- Microsoft’s price hikes are broad, affecting multiple configurations, and come at a time when the company’s hardware lineup has already faced scrutiny for cost versus value.
- Analysts and consumers are watching how these increases influence the broader PC market, with Apple’s MacBooks often highlighted as a more competitive option on price-to-performance in this environment.
- A notable online commentary thread hinted at a shift toward macOS, framing the price changes as a signal of value competition between Windows devices and Apple’s offerings.
- The price changes were reported by Windows Central for Surface devices, and by PhoneArena for Galaxy devices, with Samsung and Microsoft both citing higher memory and component costs as the driver.
- In context, this follows earlier rounds of pricing adjustments across tech hardware as supply chain pressures persist.
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