Summer is taking a heavy toll on us all. Not just because of the heat, but also because of rising tech prices across the board, driven by RAM-hungry AI and other economic factors.

Fortunately, Dell has come to cool off the frustrations of PC gamers and desk workers alike with a collection of advanced laptops, desktops, and monitors now on sale for a limited time, such as a 46% discount on the Alienware 16X Aurora Gaming laptop for $1,729.99 at Dell and a 38% discount on the Dell 14 Plus Laptop for $859.99 at Dell, to name just a couple.

FAQ

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Alienware makes gaming laptops and desktops, sure, but the line I enjoy looking at most is its QD-OLED gaming monitors. They're immensely popular after being the first to market in 2022; they're generally well-rated, and they're usually competitively priced.

One of the most popular Alienware gaming monitors is the AW3425DW, and it has now received a significant update for 2026. Dell let me get my hands on the new AW3426DW ultrawide monitor early so I could get a true feel of what it's like, and I'm here to share my thoughts on whether or not it's worth a buy.

Dell had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.

How much does the Alienware AW3426DW cost?

The AW3426DW launched at $799.99 — which is the same price at which the last-gen AW3425DW made its debut — and it's also launching at £709 in the United Kingdom.

It's worth noting that the older model is currently sitting at $649.99 after a $150 discount, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that price drop stick around now that the new model is here.

Here's a closer look at the specs that make up the Alienware AW3426DW.

A generational upgrade for Alienware's iconic ultrawide

Compared to the older AW3425DW model we reviewed favorably last year, there are several standout improvements in the new AW3426DW.

The main change arrives for the Quantum Dot-Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED) panel. It's using Samsung's new fifth-gen Penta Tandem tech that was revealed earlier this year, which the company says has twice as long a lifespan as well as 1.3 times better brightness. Text should be easier to read, and there are improvements to dark colors in bright ambient light. More on that below.

Alongside the higher brightness, the monitor now has an anti-reflective coating to better combat glare. And, finally, the refresh rate has been raised from 240Hz to 280Hz.

What I like about the Alienware AW3426DW

From a purely design standpoint, the Alienware AW3426DW hasn't changed much compared to the AW3425DW. Its case has a pleasant Interstellar Indigo color scheme, with minimal interruptions on the back panel.

An Alienware head logo is off to the left of the stand, and there's the secondary AI logo on the other side. These logos are surrounded by venting, altogether offering a clean look.

For a bit of extra jazz, the Alienware head has customizable lighting. The same applies to the monitor's power button on the bottom edge of the casing.

The front of the monitor features Alienware branding, and that's basically it. Bezels are nice and slim, and the rounded stand seems like a perfect pairing.

On that note, the stand is plenty sturdy. It doesn't offer much rotation (this is an ultrawide, after all), but there's enough tilt and swivel to keep me happy. If I were keeping the screen, it'd go onto my MSI dual-arm VESA mount thanks to 100x100mm compatibility.

All OSD settings are controlled with a single joystick. There are a ton of menu options to play around with should you want to tweak the picture, and the monitor includes quite a few presets for different tasks and gaming styles. You can also change shortcuts for easier control.

Smart HDR, Dolby Vision, refresh rates, and much more are all customizable. You can choose how the monitor handles multiple inputs. And, for those who game and work on the same screen, I'm happy to report that the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) and Picture-by-Picture (PbP) features work flawlessly.

The older AW3425DW's OSD menu, or "Command Center," had issues with freezing and closing randomly, but I've not seen those issues in the newer AW3426DW model.

How is the Alienware AW3426DW's color and brightness?

Thanks to the new fifth-gen QD-OLED panel, Alienware's flagship line of ultrawide gaming monitors has never looked better.

One of the biggest complaints about the older model was that black colors often appeared purple when in a bright room. That's been significantly improved here, and it seems that no matter how much light is falling on the screen, dark colors remain dark.

This latest model includes a new anti-reflective finish that Dell says reduces glare by up to 30%. I can't test for that precisely, but I can say that the only time I had issues with glare was in a sun-drenched room with direct light hitting the screen. If you're in an office or a gaming room, you should have no issues.

It also helps that brightness has gone up from a 250-nit cap to 300 nits. Whereas the AW3425DW tested for roughly 252 nits of brightness, I saw the AW3426DW hit 330 nits in SDR, and it goes up to about 1,300 nits with HDR enabled. This additional brightness pushes its HDR certification up to VESA DisplayHDR 500.

You can see for yourself the brightness, color, contrast, and white point ratings in the above chart that I pulled from my SpyderX Pro colorimeter.

Color reproduction has actually improved slightly compared to the previous generation. Whereas we previously tested for 97% P3 and 94% AdobeRGB coverage, the new model hits 99% and 95%, respectively. It otherwise remains at 100% sRGB.

Is Alienware's AW3426DW good for gaming?

Thanks to a curved panel, an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, a 3440x1440 resolution, a 280Hz refresh rate, and a 0.02ms response time, the Alienware AW3426DW is an outstanding gaming monitor.

The resolution hits the sweet spot for most gamers, and once you go ultrawide, you'll find it's very hard to go back to a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 280Hz refresh rate has plenty of ceiling for high-end performance hardware, and it's fast enough that you shouldn't mind using it for competitive titles.

Because it's an ultrawide with room for (at least) three separate windows, it's also great for productivity. Text is easier to read with this generation of QD-OLED panel, and you might be surprised at how crisp everything looks if you're coming from an older model.

What I dislike about the Alienware AW3426DW

There's not much to dislike about this monitor from a display quality standpoint. But there are some drawbacks you should know about before buying.

The port selection is notably a bit lacking. There's no 3.5mm audio jack (and no built-in speakers), and for data, there's just USB-C (15W) and USB-A, feeding off an upstream USB-B port.

Video inputs include dual HDMI 2.1 with Fixed Rate Link (FRL) for uncompressed 4K@120Hz gaming, but the single DisplayPort is 1.4 standard with Display Stream Compression (DSC). Some newer monitors are shipping with DP 2.1 with less compression, and I'd say it only really matters for enthusiasts.

Should you buy the Alienware AW3426DW?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're looking for a competitively priced ultrawide gaming monitor featuring fifth-gen QD-OLED tech.

✅ You have a gaming PC that can handle a 3440x1440 resolution and that can make use of a 280Hz refresh rate.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You're a competitive gamer who mostly plays at a 16:9 aspect ratio.

❌ You just want a QD-OLED ultrawide and don't care about the generation (go with the AW3425DW from last year that's now usually cheaper).

I loved my time with the Alienware AW3426DW, and it's something I'll recommend to anyone who's searching out a new QD-OLED ultrawide for gaming.

The 280Hz refresh rate is perfect for most people, the fifth-gen panel is better than ever, and the overall design is sleek and balanced.

Although some might complain that the port selection isn't generous enough or that the RGB lighting is lacking, others might not mind those drawbacks nearly as much.

And considering how many perks the monitor has, it's easy to see why this line of monitors from Alienware is so popular. I have to return the review sample, but the AW3426DW is at the top of my list for when it comes time to upgrade.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

I'm a huge fan of all-in-one computers, and have pretty much daily driven one ever since Microsoft launched the first Surface Studio in 2016. Everyone agrees that the Surface Studio is in a league of its own when it comes to AiO design, and while other OEMs have tried to match it, none have come close.

So when Microsoft killed off the Surface Studio, I was incredibly sad. Although I never really used the Surface Studio's unique canvas hinge, I did very much enjoy its design and display, and so when the time came to replace it, I was never entirely satisfied with my options. I moved to the HP Envy 32, then the HP Envy 34, before switching to a Lenovo Yoga AiO 32 line last year.

I've been happily daily-driving my Lenovo Yoga AiO 32 for over a year, and while it looked good on a desk, it wasn't a head turner. Well, it appears Lenovo has taken that criticism to heart, as the follow-up is a complete redesign that puts sexy front and center.

The new Lenovo Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition is a true sight to behold. Complete with a transparent display chin that incorporates RGB lighting, a new upside-down V-shaped stand that's unlike anything I've ever seen, an incredibly thin but capable computer built into said stand, and the best display I've ever seen on an all-in-one.

I've been daily driving this AiO for the last three weeks, and this is my full review.

This review was made possible via a review sample supplied by Lenovo. The company had no editorial input and did not view the contents of this review before publication.

Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition: Price and specs

The Lenovo Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition is a mouthful of a name, but it does make it easy to find online. You can find the device available for purchase directly on Lenovo's website for an eyewatering $3,097.99. There's only one configuration available, so there's no wiggle room on that price for now.

That configuration comes with an Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, paired with 32GB RAM and 1TB m.2 SSD storage. It also includes the Intel Arc B390 GPU, which drives the incredible 32-inch 4K OLED panel at 165Hz. Unfortunately, there are no configurations with a dedicated GPU from NVIDIA or AMD.

Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition: What I like

In a word, the Lenovo Yoga i AiO 32 Aura Edition is sexy. It's probably the best-looking desktop computer you can buy right now, and that's thanks to its absolutely insane design that places the entire computer in the stand that holds the screen up, allowing the display to take all your attention.

From a normal sitting position, you can't even see the stand. Unlike traditional stands that have a base that sits on the desk, the AiO's stand is more like a kickstand, with the weight of the display leaning against the stand, and the bottom of both the stand and the display chin making contact with the desk to form an upside-down V shape.

This is unique on its own, but when paired with the awesome-looking transparent display chin, the result is an all-encompassing 4K OLED display that looks like it floats. It's honestly super mesmerizing, and with the built-in RGB lighting enabled that shines through the transparent chin, the whole thing just looks amazing.

That RGB lighting can be controlled via Lenovo's included Vantage app, or by Windows itself using Microsoft's new Dynamic Lighting feature. This is the first time I've been able to use Windows 11's native RGB controls, and they're quick and awesome. You have a number of settings, including gradients that let you choose two colors to alternate between, and it's overall very easy to set up.

It's an incredibly eye-catching design that will turn heads whenever someone who has never seen it before comes across it. While the light-up chin is the first thing they'll notice, the second thing they'll be blown away by is the sheer quality of the 4K OLED display that sits on top of it.

This 32-inch 4K OLED panel is amazing. It's a true 10-bit panel at 165Hz, making Windows animations and scrolling look super smooth and games feel incredible to play. This is undoubtedly the best display you can find on an all-in-one PC right now, blowing the iMac and the last-gen Lenovo 32-inch AiO out of the water.

Colors simply pop on this screen. It's also incredibly color accurate, with a 99% DCI‑P3 and 100% sRGB rating making it great for video editors and photo artists. It's plenty bright, with up to 1,000 nits peak brightness in HDR content too. The display is surrounded by thin uniform bezels, with a metal frame that's cold to the touch and feels incredibly premium.

On the right side of the display is a USB-C port, which makes plugging in flash drives and other peripherals super easy and convenient. There's also a 3.5mm audio jack on this same display edge, which is nice for plugging in headphones. The rest of the ports are located on the stand, most of which are at the very back.

On the stand, you'll find a single USB-A port on the side of the stand, which is designed for a wireless keyboard and mouse dongle (but you can plug anything into it) behind a door. On the back, there are two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and that's it. I do wish there was maybe an additional USB-A and USB-C port, and an Ethernet jack wouldn't have gone amiss either.

Along the top of the display is a 16MP webcam that looks great and is a significant upgrade over the last gen Lenovo AiO. It's much clearer, and Windows Hello face unlock works a little faster as a result. There's a webcam kill switch on the right side of the display that's easy to reach for when you don't want anyone looking at you.

The AiO comes with a nice keyboard and mouse as well. These are automatically paired with the PC when you unbox, as the wireless dongle comes plugged in from the factory. The keyboard is hefty but premium-feeling, featuring a chiclet-style typing experience that's quiet yet satisfying.

Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition: What I don't like

Unfortunately, there are some things about the Lenovo Yoga AiO 32 Aura Edition that aren't my favorite. While this device is overall amazing and I would recommend it to pretty much anyone, that does come with a few caveats.

First of all, the design of this computer does have a few trade-offs. Firstly, the space required to set up the computer optimally on your desk is a significantly larger area than your usual AiO that sits on a normal stand with a base. The upside-down V-shape nature means that to angle the screen comfortably, you need to widen the gap between the two points of contact on the desk.

This isn't going to be an issue if you have a large desk, but for those on smaller desks, you might find the display ends up being slightly too close to you, or the stand ends up uncomfortably close to the edge of the desk. The underside of the stand is covered in a grippy texture, so it won't slide anywhere, but it's still a little unnerving.

You also lose usable desk space with this design. Sure, you can put things behind the display between it and the stand if you wanted, but that would mean you'll need to reach around the display whenever you need access to whatever it is you've put behind it. Plus, the transparent chin means you can see all the mess behind there at all times.

On the subject of that transparent chin. I love it, I really do, but my goodness, is it a dust and fingerprint magnet. Be prepared to be cleaning it on the daily. I don't know how fingerprints even end up there, as I'm never actively touching the chin, but somehow I'm always cleaning them off.

This design also results in the position of the ports being really difficult to reach. While there is a single USB-C port on the side of the display, which is super easy to access and great to have, all the other ports are on the stand, most of which are at the back on the very bottom. This makes them basically impossible to reach when sitting in front of the display.

I complained about the position of the ports on the last-gen AiO from Lenovo, but at least on that device you could reach through the display stand to get to the ports from a sitting position. On this new model, you have no choice but to get up, lean around the display, and fondle your way into plugging your peripheral in. It's quite annoying.

I'd also argue that for a device being targeted at creators, it's quite lacking in the port section. There are just two USB-C and three USB-A ports on the whole device, four of which are on the back. Plus, there's no Ethernet jack for wired internet, and no SD card reader of any kind. I do wish that it had an SD card reader at the very least.

The last thing I don't like about the AiO is the built-in speaker system. In my testing, I can't help but think there's something wrong with them. Whenever the audio channel is open, an audible hissing/whooshing noise is present. This noise is present regardless of the audio being played, but is more noticeable when the volume is on medium or low settings. It's even audible when the device is muted and an audio track is playing, and it goes away entirely when the audio channel is closed.

It's so noticeable that I reached out to Lenovo to request a new review unit, thinking mine was defective, only to find the second sample has the same problem. So, I don't know if this is a hardware defect or something that can be fixed via firmware updates. I couldn't tell you what's causing the noise, but it is there.

If you've ordered one of these AiOs, let me know if this issue is present on your unit, or if I just somehow received two defective models back to back. This problem is easily solved by using an external set of speakers, which is what I do, completely bypassing the built-in speaker system. Still, it's not something you should have to put up with when paying this amount of money for a device, so if yours has this issue and you're unhappy, be sure to return it.

Yoga AiO i 32 Aura Edition: Performance

This AiO is one that strikes a perfect balance between performance and quiet operation. This thing is whisper-quiet for 99% of the time you'll be using it, with the fans only spinning up under heavy sustained load for long periods. Even when on full blast, the fans aren't offensively loud.

Powered by the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (Core Ultra Series 3) and Intel Arc B390 GPU, this AiO is well equipped to handle your usual day-to-day tasks, as well as high-intensity tasks such as video and photo editing, rendering, and 3D modeling. It's even a competent gaming machine, though I wouldn't buy one for dedicated gaming.

The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU is where this machine truly shines, flexing massive numbers in multi-threaded tasks thanks to its advanced architectural efficiency. With a Geekbench single-core score of 2,851 and a multicore score of 16,964, it breezily handles heavy multitasking, AI workloads, and complex data processing.

In everyday productivity, it achieved a CrossMark score of 2,128, which means it has snappy execution across office applications. For rendering workloads, the Cinebench benchmarks reveal a single-core score of 501 and a robust multicore score of 4,927. The device has minimal thermal throttling, and as mentioned above, rarely gets loud.

The inclusion of the Intel Arc B390 GPU elevates this machine beyond your usual standard integrated graphics. It's a highly efficient, modern graphics solution that I'd describe as more than good enough for light to moderate gaming, intensive content creation, and smooth video editing. Here are our 3DMark benchmark results:

It's clear that the Intel B390 isn't going to be great at running the latest games at their highest settings at 4K 120Hz, but bumping things down to medium-high graphics settings and 1080p or 1440p will result in a perfectly fine gaming experience, which should be more than enough for those who are only gaming casually on their PCs.

Games like Halo: The Master Chief Collection or Hitman run great on the AiO. Cyberpunk 2077 also runs really well when set to 1440p high settings. Older games like GTA V run at high frame rates with all their settings maxed out, even at 4K. So it really will come down to the kind of games you play and how graphically intensive they are.

The Intel B390 is a step above your typical integrated graphics, but it's no dedicated GPU from NVIDIA or AMD. So expectations should be tempered if you're looking to game. Most modern games should run more than fine if you set their graphics settings to medium 1080p. It's fair to say the Intel B390 is better served for content creators, being an excellent GPU for rendering video, 3D models, and more.

I do wish Lenovo offered the PC with the option of being configured with a dedicated GPU, as the B390 on its own might be disappointing for some, especially at these prices.

The last-gen flagship Lenovo Yoga AiO featured an NVIDIA RTX 4050, which provides roughly the same level of performance as the Intel B390, but I've found that some games run slightly better with smoother frame rates on the older NVIDIA card. So we're not seeing any real performance upgrades across generations, outside of the fact that the Intel B390 is a more efficient GPU overall.

For storage speeds, the CrystalDiskMark results are top-tier, clocking in at an impressive 7,008.27 MB/s read and 5,807.32 MB/s write speeds. This should mean boot times, app loading, and file transfers stay nice and fast.

Conclusion

You should buy this PC if...

✅ You want a beautiful Windows all-in-one

✅ You want one of the best OLED displays on a Windows PC

✅ You're a creator who focuses on video and photo editing

You should not buy this PC if...

❌ You have a small desk

❌ You frequently need to plug in and unplug peripherals

❌ You rely heavily on built-in speakers

❌ You're a hardcore gamer who wants to game

Overall, I believe the Lenovo Yoga i AiO 32 Aura Edition is an almost perfect all-in-one. It's definitely at the top of the list when it comes to an aesthetic design point, but those design choices aren't without their own minor annoyances. For me, I'm happy to sacrifice easy port access in exchange for sheer beauty.

With that said, there's clearly a problem with the built-in audio setup on two of the units I tested. Once again, I'm hoping that this issue is software-related and can be fixed via a firmware update. Some may not even notice the hissing noise, but it's very audible and distracting for me.

The lack of a dedicated GPU option may also upset some people, especially those that are wanting to game. While the Intel Arc B390 is good, it's by no means great, especially for the over $3,000 you'll be paying for this PC new.

Those issues aside, I have to say that this AiO is the first one I've used since the Surface Studio that has blown me away. It's just jaw-droppingly good to look at, and it's something I'm proud to have sitting on my desk. There's nothing boring or corporate about it; it's simply mesmerizing.

The design, paired with the glorious 4K 165Hz OLED panel and great performance under the hood, results in an incredible experience at a high cost, which unfortunately can't be helped given the ongoing component pricing crisis. If Lenovo is able to get the speaker issue sorted, this device is a clear winner in my book.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Dell's laptops can be pricey, especially in this turbulent economy. Still, the vast majority live up to their high asking prices thanks to their sleek, portable designs, strong performance for daily productivity and creative projects, and long-lasting batteries.

The Dell Pro 16 laptop is no exception, and its steep $1,529.00 listing price has been taken down a peg to $1,229.00 at Dell for a limited time.

Why buy the Dell Pro 16 laptop?

The Dell Pro 16 laptop has received much praise from over 1,059 customers on Dell.com (average rating: 4.5), citing it's top of the line build-quality, performance, and features. And of those, 828 were perfect 5-stars from customers who bought it.

This configuration we're spotlighting is armed with an Intel Core Ultra 5 235U vPro CPU and 16GB of RAM, which enables it to boot up as quickly as a fingersnap and operate productivity apps like Microsoft Office and open multiple tabs in web browsers like Microsoft Edge with ease and no performance hiccups.

Not to mention it has a sleek design that can take a lot of punishment while being ultra-thin enough to carry in most travel bags with minimal issue for easy portability.

Other notable features include a large 16" FHD screen so you can see images and text with clear definition so you perceive them better, a built-in camera so you can host video calls at 1080p+30fps, an optional fingerprint scanner during checkout to add extra security, and a respectable battery life of roughly 9 hours before needing to recharge.

So, if you're looking for a premium-grade laptop that can topple any productivity obstacle thrown at it so you can clock out of work early, then the Dell Pro 16 could be your next best ticket out of the office.

FAQ

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

The ongoing memory crisis has taken a heavy toll on tech, forcing PC prices to rise regardless of how much we need them in our daily lives, whether that's communicating with family or working with remote colleagues millions of miles away (or simply watching Netflix).

But we'll always find deals on a range of Windows laptops so you can enjoy fast performance, crisp displays, and sizeable storage that regularly drop below $1,000, with this recent collection being a prime example.

This roundup includes the speedy and reliable Dell 14, now 43% off at $699.99 at Dell (list price $1,229.99), or the most budget-conscious ASUS Vivobook 14, now on sale for $519.99 at Amazon (list price $639.99).

FAQ

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If there ever was a golden age of cheap memory and storage, I'm sorry to tell you that it's over.

The 2TB NVMe SSD you bought early last year? It now costs three times what you paid. The 32GB kit of DDR5 RAM that was $90 last summer? It's now somewhere between $300 and $500, if you can find it for sale at all.

The effects of the RAM crisis are being felt downstream in tech markets everywhere. Xbox just announced this week another console price hike. Apple announced it's raising prices of its MacBooks. Microsoft recently raised the prices of its Surface PCs. The Steam Machine is making its debut at $1,049. I could go on and on.

The worst part of this whole RAMpocalypse? No one really knows when it's going to end.

Why are memory and storages prices still going up?

So what happened? AI happened. The way the world's memory market is set up relies on three major companies to supply everyone else with DRAM for consumer memory and storage.

Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron realized early on in the AI boom that they could make a whole lot more money by moving away from consumer memory and into high-bandwidth memory (HBM) that's used in AI datacenters.

Profit margins are enormous on the other side, and I really don't find it surprising that these massive corporations made the shift, as companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have essentially offered blank checks to buy up as much memory as possible.

The fallout of these moves by the three big memory manufacturers, of course, is a strangulation of the consumer memory market. And this isn't a typical supply crunch like we've seen in the past that can be remedied by a new manufacturing plant coming online.

This time around, the memory crisis is a reallocation of the world's DRAM manufacturing capabilities, and there's no real end in sight.

I don't think RAM and SSD prices will drop anytime soon

I'm not expecting to see tech prices drop anytime soon, and you don't have to take my word for it.

Counterpoint Research confirmed in February that memory prices rose in Q1 2026 by 80% to 90% compared to Q4 2025. Late last year, Kingston noted that it had seen a 246% increase in NAND wafer pricing compared to the start of 2025, the steepest ever in the company's 29-year history.

In February 2026, Gartner released findings suggesting that, by the end of 2026, DRAM and SSD prices could surge by 130% compared to 2025, which could raise PC prices by 17%. I believe we're already seeing that estimation come into play, and this same study predicts that global PC shipments could fall by 10.4% this year.

It gets worse. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra signaled earlier this year that the RAM crisis would continue beyond 2026. This week, Micron announced that most of its DRAM has been bought up via long-term contracts through 2030, and that there's almost certainly no end to the crisis.

SK hynix, another one of the three big DRAM players, stated in 2025 that its HBM, DRAM, and NAND manufacturing capacity is sold out through 2026.

OK, I know that's a lot of numbers, but I'm trying to drive the point home: the RAM and SSD crisis isn't likely to end in 2026. It probably won't end in 2027, either. 2028 could be our lucky year, but that's relatively far into the future and harder to predict.

The problem is compounded by the fact that it takes a very long time to create new fabrication plants, not to mention the billions of dollars required to get the project going.

Micron is building a new fab plant in Idaho, for example, but it's not likely to begin producing anything meaningful until the end of 2027. Keep in mind that this is the same company that axed its entire consumer RAM and SSD portfolio in 2025 to focus on AI clients.

Samsung and SK hynix, meanwhile, are focusing on raising production in their existing plants, as new fabs won't be ready until the late 2020s.

Most of the analyst forecasts I've read rightfully point to some relief coming no earlier than late 2027, and I'm not talking about 2024-era prices. If those prices ever return, it will be at the end of a long, slow decline as the market levels out.

If memory prices drop, will PC prices also fall?

I certainly enjoy entertaining more conspiratorial ideas, and the one question that I don't think enough people are asking is about PC prices after memory and storage markets return to normalcy.

Will the laptops, PC components, consoles, tablets, and other affected tech products drop in price once RAM and storage markets return to normal?

If I'm being optimistic, then yes, I do believe that a correction in component costs would also lead to a correction in PC and console pricing. History suggests that this isn't out of the ordinary. There was a glut of memory and storage in 2023 and 2024, and I recall consumer prices did soften a bit.

However, I don't think 2026/2027/2028 is at all the same as years gone by. PC makers are expecting to see a major hit in worldwide PC shipments in 2026. As mentioned, Gartner predicts a 10.4% decline. IDC research points to an 11.3% decline.

The twist is that by raising prices for consumers, the PC market is still expected to grow by hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years.

This is what I find particularly frightening. If the volume of sales drops but profits keep growing, is there really any financial pressure that will make PC makers drop prices?

I don't think most PC makers will care that entry-level buyers are priced out of the market when enthusiasts and enterprise customers continue to shovel money their way. Why bother with discount laptops at thin margins?

👉 Conspiracy theory or apt prediction? — The AI-fueled hardware shortage will kill local PCs, paving the way for subscription-based cloud computing

Gartner believes the sub-$500 laptop market will completely disappear by 2028, and I'd say we're already well on our way. Will that market recover when RAM and SSD prices return to normal? Hard to say.

I can reference the GPU price spikes from a few years ago during the crypto boom and pandemic shortages. GPU prices went up, the market leveled off, and GPU prices came back down. But they didn't go all the way back down, resetting at a higher baseline than before.

Consumers had become used to paying inflated GPU prices, and there was really no incentive to drop prices back to 2019 levels. I think the same logic applies to the PC market.

The Chinese wildcard could save us all

Competition is likely the only thing that can save us, barring a collapse of the AI boom and a bursting of the market bubble.

Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron currently control about 90% of the world's DRAM production, which makes it painfully easy to coordinate pricing. I'm not saying it's explicit collusion, but it's certainly something.

The best chance of breaking up this oligopoly comes from China. Companies like YMTC and CXMT have been steadily growing their share of the NAND market with newfound production and new fabs.

If these competitors can indeed scale up production and get their products out to international buyers, I don't see how that wouldn't disrupt the oligopoly. It's not exactly smooth sailing for China's manufacturers, though, as issues with exports, access to advanced equipment, and geopolitical concerns are all hurdles they must pass.

What does this mean for you and your next PC?

Gartner expects PC lifetime for regular consumers to increase by 20% by the end of this year. The cheap PC upgrade cycle has all but come to an end.

When new DRAM factories do come online, I expect them to serve AI customers first. Consumers will get the scraps, just like they are currently. Chinese DRAM makers might enter the international market and force prices to fall, but I doubt by enough to make a serious impact.

👉 Best Windows laptop in 2026

If you're waiting for the RAM crisis to be over before you buy your next device, I have some bad news. The most optimistic predictions put easing as early as late 2027 or 2028, while the most pessimistic push the dates into the 2030s.

Should you need a new PC now, I recommend buying one that will last for years to come. What some thought was a brief blip on the PC market's graph has some serious staying power. What it will look like, if it ever returns to normal, is anyone's guess.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Amazon Prime Day has entered its fourth and final day, and I know that some of you are probably tired of the sheer amount of deals floating around social media and your favorite websites.

I get it. There are countless deals to sift through, and the fatigue is real. However! I figured it was worth throwing together a collection of the deals that our readers here at Windows Central seemed to love the most.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

At the top of the list, and no surprise in the current console pricing climate, is Seagate's 2TB Storage Expansion Card for the Xbox Series X|S. Although the original Amazon deal expired, you can still save $55 at Newegg.

In second place is Geekom's A7 Max mini PC and its $204 discount available at Best Buy. Third place is unsurprisingly inhabited by a discounted Surface Pro 11; the original deal ran out, but you can still save $300 on a new model at Walmart.

Several other popular sales, including the Xbox Series X, Surface Laptop 7, and Seagate's other capacity expansion cards, are long gone, but the following deals are confirmed to be all in stock as of noon ET on June 26.

Most popular Prime Day deals according to Windows Central readers

More details about the most popular deals at Windows Central

Stop the presses! A laptop maker just announced a price reduction in 2026. Despite the ongoing RAM crisis and component shortage, Framework just dropped the price of the Framework Laptop 13 Pro.

Framework was able to source a new SSD from its partner ADATA that offers better performance and reliability while costing less.

Framework Laptop 13 Pro preorders have not started shipping, so any order that's already been placed has been upgraded to the new SSD and had pricing adjusted.

"This new SSD comes in 1TB and 2TB options, and the 1TB lands at a lower price than the 500GB SSD we had previously qualified, so we will also switch 500GB orders to the 1TB drive at the lower price," explained Framework.

Framework's website did not show the reduced pricing when I drafted this piece, so I can't share the exact costs of the new configurations. I'll update this piece as more information becomes available.

The announcement comes as good news for those shopping for the unique laptop from Framework, but it's a relatively small reprieve from the current financial climate.

Even in Framework's announcement of the price decrease, the PC maker warned that CPU price increases are expected. "We expect that we will need to adjust the overall system price on Framework Laptop 13 Pro in the coming weeks for new orders," said Framework.

Framework dropped its prices on the same day Apple unveiled several price increases, which led to a playful jab. Framework clarified in a follow-up post that the timing of its reductions was coincidental and not in response to Apple.

The unfortunate reality is that many laptop makers have bumped up prices, including Framework. Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and others have all had to raise prices. For a short time, Apple was immune to price hikes due to its stockpile of components, but that is no longer the case.

We shouldn't expect things to improve in the immediate future. When Microsoft announced another wave of price increases to Xbox consoles, the company said it expects another doubling of console storage and memory prices by the fall of 2027. The same factors that contribute to those components doubling in price will affect PC parts.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you’ve been waiting for a laptop deal that actually feels like a steal, this is it. The ASUS Vivobook 16 OLED, now just $1,159 (down from $1,599), is one of those rare machines that delivers more than you expect for the price. It’s a 16‑inch notebook with flagship specs, a stunning display, and Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 processor built for serious performance.

It’s the kind of deal that makes you double‑check the listing to make sure nothing’s missing. Spoiler: nothing is. You get a full‑power H‑series chip, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a 3K OLED display in a chassis that’s only 0.55 inches thick and weighs 3.31 pounds.

Why this is a good deal

Laptop prices are heading in the wrong direction. Apple just raised MacBook prices again. Microsoft bumped Xbox console prices literally today. Analysts expect PC hardware costs to keep climbing well into 2027 as AI‑centric chips and premium materials become the new standard.

That’s what makes this Vivobook deal stand out. You’re getting a machine that’s already built for the next generation of computing, complete with Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 processor and a dedicated Copilot key (hey, some people think it's a selling point), at a price that feels normal.

The Core Ultra 7 255H is part of Intel’s new H‑series lineup, designed for high‑performance laptops that can handle creative workloads, gaming, and multitasking without breaking a sweat. Paired with Intel Arc graphics, it’s capable of light gaming, video editing, and productivity tasks that would slow down most midrange systems.

Specs that matter

ASUS didn’t cut corners here. The Vivobook 16 OLED features a 2880×1800 Lumina OLED display that delivers deep blacks, vivid color, and true HDR contrast. It’s the kind of panel that makes everything look better, from spreadsheets to streaming.

Under the hood, you get 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, which means instant responsiveness and plenty of space for creative work. The ASUS IceCool Thermal Technology with dual fans and 97 iceblades keeps the system cool even under load, while the 75Wh battery promises up to 16 hours of runtime.

Despite the power, it’s impressively portable. At 0.55 inches thin and 3.31 pounds, it’s lighter than most 16‑inch laptops and built with a reinforced steel frame that feels solid without being bulky.

ASUS also added thoughtful touches: Dolby Atmos audio by Harman Kardon, Wi‑Fi 7 certification, and an RGB ErgoSense keyboard with Windows 11’s new Dynamic Lighting support. It’s a subtle upgrade that makes the laptop feel more premium than its price suggests.

Ready for what’s next

The dedicated Copilot key is a small but telling detail. It’s a sign of where Windows laptops are heading — toward integrated features that help with writing, summarizing, and creative tasks. The Vivobook 16 OLED is ready for that future right out of the box, with Intel’s AI Boost NPU handling on‑device workloads efficiently.

That means faster photo editing, smarter background blur in video calls, and better battery life when using modern Windows features. It’s hardware that will matter as Windows 11 evolves through 2026 and beyond.

The bigger picture

The timing of this deal could not be better. With component costs rising and manufacturers shifting focus to premium laptops, midrange buyers are getting squeezed. The Vivobook 16 OLED breaks that trend by offering flagship performance at a mainstream price.

It’s proof that not every high‑end laptop has to cost two grand. ASUS managed to deliver a machine that feels premium without the markup, and deals like this will only get rarer as the market adjusts to new pricing norms.

Bottom line

If you want a laptop that looks great, runs fast, and feels ready for the next few years, this Vivobook 16 OLED deal is hard to beat. It’s thin, light, powerful, and genuinely premium.

With 32GB of RAM, a 3K OLED display, and Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 processor, this is the kind of deal that feels like it slipped through the cracks. Grab it before prices catch up.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It's Prime Day, and that means there are some great Windows laptops on sale not only at Amazon, but also at all major competing retailers. What makes this year's laptop sales more important than others is the fact that all PCs have gone up in price recently due to component shortages.

It's almost unbelievable that I'm seeing up to 54% off laptops using DDR5 RAM, but the proof is in the roundup I've assembled below. These are some of the biggest discounts I've seen in all my 10 years of covering these types of sales.

What makes these deals even sweeter is the fact that Apple just raised the prices of all of its MacBooks this morning. If you want an incredible deal on a new Windows laptop, this is the place to check first.

🔥 Hottest Prime Day Windows laptop deals 🔥

Best Prime Day gaming laptop deals

Best Prime Day laptop accessory deals

Best Prime Day software deals

Did Apple just raise the prices of all of its MacBooks?

Apple just announced on June 25 that it's raising prices across its MacBook lineup.

The MacBook Neo, which took the laptop market by storm, has gone from $599 to $699. That's with 8GB of RAM, no keyboard backlight, and two rather wimpy ports.

MacBook Air models with 512GB of storage have gone up from $1,099 to $1,299, while the MacBook Pro with 1TB of storage has increased from $1,699 to $1,999.

Has there ever been a better time to invest in a discounted Windows laptop with loads of memory and storage?

Amazon Prime Day is taking place as we speak, and other online retails stores are jumping into on the fun with their own sales. HP's online store is one such place, and I've just found an incredible deal on a laptop I just reviewed last week. The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with Snapdragon is $650 off right now, down to just $1,249 while stocks last!

This is the best HP laptop I've tested in a long while. In fact, I think it's probably the prettiest Windows laptop you can buy right now, complete with a best-in-class display, premium build quality, and much more. For this price, you're getting a great device.

Why is the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 a good laptop?

I've not long published my review of the HP OmniBook Ultra, and I came away very impressed, giving it 5 stars and calling it one of the best Snapdragon laptops this year. Under the hood is Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 Plus SoC, which features 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. It's a powerful and efficient chip, easily capable of most day to day productivity tasks, data crunching, and even light video and photo editing.

It features a best-in-class 1080p OLED touchscreen, which features inky deep color contrast and makes images and text pop . It also has an incredible keyboard, and new haptic trackpad that feels great to use.

The device is also super premium. I think it might be the best looking and feeling Windows laptop on the market currently. It's just 2.83lbs in weight, and features a brushed metal finish around the edges that looks simply incredible. The device is also designed in such a way that makes it look incredibly thin when on a desk, which is awesome.

It features three USB-C ports, along with a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has a Windows Hello equipped webcam that shoots good 1080p photo and video. Lastly, the laptop is a power champ, lasting all day on a single charge with ease. For $1,249, you're not getting a better laptop in 2026 than this.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Buying PC components in 2026 is largely a lesson in frustration. Prices are out of control, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to build new or upgrade your PC. As a fellow PC gamer and build enthusiast, I know how the struggle feels.

While I can't predict when the RAM and SSD crisis will end, I can offer some deals on PC components I found at Amazon Prime Day and Newegg's competing FantasTech sale.

Many of these deals are expected to expire at the end of the day. It is, after all, the last official day of the four-day Prime Day event. My advice? If you're interested in a deal, don't wait much longer!

• All Amazon Prime Day deals
• Laptop deals at Amazon
• Save on PC components at Amazon
• Best Buy "Tech Fest" (Ends June 28)
• Newegg "FantasTech Sale" (Ends June 28)
• Walmart "Deals & More" (Ends June 28)

🔥 Hottest Prime Day PC deals 🔥

Best Prime Day PC bundle deals

Best Prime Day RAM deals

Best Prime Day SSD deals

Best Prime Day CPU deals

Best Prime Day GPU deals

Amazon Prime Day FAQ

Amazon Prime Day is typically the best time to buy new tech during the summer, and it's especially meaningful this year as PC component prices have skyrocketed.

Whether it's summer classes or early prep for a fresh college start in the fall, Amazon Prime Day (and all the other competing sales) is a perfect time to set your student up for success on the cheap.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

I've combed through the best deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and more to come up with this varied list of laptops, monitors, and accessories.

I found quite a list of thin and light PCs starting at just $479 that are perfect for students, and be sure to scroll through to the accessories that complement them!

Update June 25 @ 11:55AM ET: Added a mega $700 discount on a 4TB external SSD! — Cale Hunt

Quick links

• All Amazon Prime Day deals
• Laptop deals at Amazon
• Save on PC components at Amazon
• Best Buy "Tech Fest" (Ends June 28)
• Newegg "FantasTech Sale" (Ends June 28)
• Walmart "Deals & More" (Ends June 28)

Best thin and light laptop deals for students 💻

Best Prime Day accessory deals for students

Prime Day 2026: FAQ

Amazon's Prime Day is an annual event that sees a ton of sales on great tech, but it's certainly not the only event on the go. Competing retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Newegg, and many more often have better deals on similar products, and I'm always checking the big names for the best prices.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Amazon Prime Day week is happening right now, which is helping make good Windows 11 PCs more affordable in this current component pricing crisis climate across the entire retail space. With new laptops skyrocketing in price, deals on last-gen products like this Dell XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite for $999 shouldn't be ignored, especially as it comes with 32GB RAM.

With RAM costing so much these days, devices with more than 16GB RAM usually come at a high premium. That makes this deal even more lucrative, as 32GB RAM laptops now often cost north of $1,000, and even more so on flagship devices with premium components and build qualities like the XPS 13.

Is the Dell XPS 13 a flagship laptop?

Powered by the Snapdragon X Elite, with 32GB RAM and 1TB storage, the Dell XPS 13 is an excellent flagship Windows 11 laptop. It has a 13.4-inch OLED display which looks absolutely amazing, and it's paired with Dell's best-in-class haptic trackpad and zero lattice keyboard design which makes the device look very futuristic.

It's a device made out of premium materials that feel great in the hand, including a CNC-machined aluminum chassis. It's one of Dell's thinnest and lightest laptops, coming in at just 2.2lbs and 0.60 inches. It features all day battery life too thanks to efficient Arm SoC that powers things under the hood.

The chip itself is Qualcomm's flagship SoC from 2024, meaning it's perfectly capable for most tasks you'll want to throw at it. It can do light gaming, video and photo editing, and breeze through productivity workflows, heavy multitasking, and more thanks to that added 32GB RAM headroom,

It has two USB4 Type‑C ports supporting DisplayPort and power delivery. Wireless performance is handled by Qualcomm FastConnect 7800, bringing Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for future‑proof networking.

Overall, it's an incredible laptop with lots of power and performance under the hood. And 32GB RAM on a flagship laptop in 2026 for under $1,000 is tough to come by, so I'd snap this deal up while it's still available.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you have an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, you probably need more storage. Having to uninstall a game to install a new game or an update to one of your favorite titles is a hassle.

The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is a plug-and-play solution that lets you expand the storage of your console.

Right now, all sizes of the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S are on sale. The 1TB model costs $189.99 Best Buy (was $249.99), the 2TB version costs $259.99 (was $349.99) at Amazon. Best Buy's deal on the 4TB card drops the price to $549.99 (was $649.99).

Why buy the Seagate Expansion Card?

The Seagate Expansion Card is the simplest way to expand the storage of your console. There's no setup or configuration required to use the card.

Xbox Series X|S games can be massive. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 alone is 161GB, and that's without DLC. The Seagate Expansion Card delivers similar speeds to the native storage of the Xbox Series X|S, so you can store games on the card and play them without having to transfer files around.

The Seagate Expansion Card also supports Quick Resume, which is a feature that lets you pause your game and power down your console and then pick up exactly where you left off when you load the game again.

Considering how big games are and how many great games are available on the Xbox Series X|S and on the way to the consoles, an expansion card of some kind is a must have. The Seagate Expansion Card is the easiest to use, quick enough to play games off, and is a great deal during Prime Day.

Alternative discounts

Prime Day discounts and a deal at Best Buy provide the best prices on the Seagate Expansion Card, but if those deals expire, you can check out these alternatives:

1TB

• $189.99 at Walmart
• $189.99 at Amazon (was $249.99) (appears to be out of stock)

2TB

• $259.99 at Walmart (was $299.99)
• $259.99 at Best Buy (was $349.99)
• $259.99 at Newegg (was $279.99)

FAQ

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.