- The RAM crisis has forced Microsoft to raise prices on Surface laptops
- These increases are widespread, with increases of up to $500 in the US.
- Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets also received steep price increases
A new round of price increases in hardware, specifically on Microsoft’s Surface devices along with Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and tablets, is the latest blow dealt to consumers by the RAM crisis.
Windows Central noted that Surface laptop prices have increased across the board at the Microsoft Store. Some of the worst price jumps here mean basic devices have increased by $500 in the US.
For example, the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop started at $999 when the device first appeared in 2024, but now costs $1,499 (with 16GB of RAM, the same configuration as all of these base models).
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If you want the 15-inch model of this laptop, you’ll pay $300 more than at launch, with an outlay of $1,599 (which isn’t a huge jump, but still a nasty increase).
As for the 13-inch Surface Pro, its price has increased by $500. The 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop haven’t been hit as hard, but they’re still $250 and $300 more expensive, respectively, for the base configuration.
A top-spec 13-inch Surface Pro with 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD will lighten your wallet to the tune of $3,649.
Equivalent increases are no doubt expected in other regions, and these new prices will trickle down to other retailers selling Surface products, as expected.
Microsoft told Windows Central: “Due to recent increases in memory and component costs, Surface is updating pricing on Microsoft.com for its current-generation hardware portfolio. We remain committed to delivering value to customers and partners while maintaining our standards for quality and innovation.”
Meanwhile, Phone Arena is reporting some price increases on certain models of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and tablets, which have just quietly come into play in the US.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 variant with 512GB storage has increased its price from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99, and the Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB) has also increased from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99. Additionally, the Galaxy S25 FE has had a price increase from $709.99 to $749.9 (in this case for the 256GB model).
As for Samsung tablets, price increases have been implemented for the Galaxy Tab S11, Tab S10, and Tab A11 models in the US. That includes increases of $100 to $200, or even close to $300 in some cases (the Tab S11 Ultra with 1TB went from $1,619.99 to $1,899.99).
Analysis: Samsung’s concerns and Apple’s value
At least the price increases are relatively mild with Samsung phones, although $80 is still a bit of a pain (the S25 FE at $40 is much more palatable). However, compared to what’s happened with Samsung’s tablets, and the Surface range in particular, that’s relatively insignificant. Furthermore, Microsoft’s increases are across the board, while Samsung has only increased a few phones here (and not entry-level products either, crucially).
Still, this is because other Samsung phones and tablets became more expensive earlier this month (including the Galaxy Z Fold 7). Unfortunately, all of this points to possible additional price increases from Samsung in the future.
As for Microsoft, the current-gen Surface line is excellent in many ways – the 13-inch Surface Laptop still ranks as the best Windows 11 device in our roundup of the best laptops – but these new prices really put a dent in the range’s appeal. Microsoft devices are now a batch They’re more expensive overall, and they didn’t previously specialize in affordability either (especially not with beefier RAM and SSD configurations).
This is particularly bad news for Microsoft right now, because it makes Apple’s MacBooks look much more tempting in terms of value proposition versus purchasing a Surface. Apple appears to be weathering this PC component storm most gracefully yet, and with the affordable MacBook Neo already threatening Windows laptop dominance, it could be a dangerous time for Satya Nadella’s company, both on the hardware and software fronts.
As one Redditor observed in a thread where several people are mulling, or have already made, a macOS defection: “Perfect timing for Microslop, a month after Apple announced the Neo. What could they have been thinking? Apple is now the value brand, lol…”
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