Is there still any cheap tech? Here's what our experts say

Between massive AI rollouts and shaky global geopolitics, prices on laptops, mobile phones, tablets and more have left consumers feeling the pinch. We spoke to our experts for advice on how to save money on tech amid rising costs.

You would think that as new tech comes out, older models get cheaper to buy. Our expert advice usually follows that line of thinking, but throughout 2026, we've often seen the opposite. 

So we asked our experts: are the days of cheap tech over? Read on to see their verdicts, as well as advice on how you can save money on tech in 2026.

It's not all doom and gloom: with Black Friday 2026 just around the corner, we're hoping we can bag bargains on tech.

What is 'RAMageddon'?

It's the nickname being used to describe the worldwide shortage of crucial components, mainly Ram memory chips, which every computer needs in order to work properly.

These days, there are tiny computers in just about everything from washing machines to cars to gaming consoles. This shortage is a major reason why the price of Ram is going up.

This, in turn, is why some tech is seeing major price increases – especially on phones, laptops, tablets and game consoles, which need more gigabytes of Ram to stay speedy.

Why is the price of Ram going up, and what does that mean for consumers?

Ram prices have shot up dramatically this year as demand from AI companies and the rollout of large data centres have far outpaced supply of memory chips and other critical components needed to power this boom. 

It isn't just AI. Manufacturers require helium gas, a byproduct of the oil industry, to produce the memory chips needed for consumer devices. Much of this helium passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which, at the time of writing, is still seeing much lower shipping levels due to the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Since Ram is required for any computer to run properly, these ballooning costs are trickling down to consumers in the form of increased prices on new tech.

How to save money on tech in 2026

We spoke to our experts for their top tips on avoiding these extremely high prices and their recommendations for the bits of tech that remain (somewhat) budget-friendly.

How to save money on laptops in 2026

Which? laptops expert, Oliver Trebilcock, says:

'Buying a laptop from a big manufacturer can help shield you from big price rises, since they tend to buy components in bulk. We've seen the price hikes more towards the budget end of the market – particularly for Windows models, where good options are becoming scarcer.

'What we've also seen happening is that more premium laptops are coming out with only 8GB of Ram, as opposed to 16GB.

'However, Microsoft has promised to ensure that Windows 11 can run smoothly with just 8GB. Just be sure you don't open too many apps or browser tabs at the same time.

'To save money, don't buy extra features you don't need. Touchscreens, ultra-light models under 1kg and other non-essential features just raise the price higher.

'It's also worth considering buying a second-hand laptop, although there are some older models still in stock from some retailers.

'If you do spot a good deal on an older laptop, it's worth getting. It's likely that, soon, there won't be many laptops that feel like they offer a bargain for their price.'

What to buy: Acer Aspire 14 (NX.JNQEK.003)

It's a slightly older model, but can still be found in stock. It launched in 2025 with a reasonable sub-£800 price, and at under £700 in 2026, we think it's worth the money.

It has an Intel Core 5 processor, 16GB of Ram and a 512GB SSD. Plus, it has an OLED display. 

Read our full Acer Aspire 14 NX.JNQEK.003 review.

Read our guide on the best laptop deals or our advice on how to buy the best second-hand laptop

Where can I find a cheap smartphone?

Which? mobile phones expert, Jamie Darlow, says:

'Prices are up significantly on almost all brands. Recently, Apple increased the price of iPhones by £100 across the board, including older models and refurbished phones.

'However, there are still bargains to be had on older models that were released before these price hikes. You're much more likely to find a good Android deal than you are on an iOS phone, though.'

What to buy: Google Pixel 9a

Now is a fairly unfortunate time to be buying a new phone, however, it's worth keeping your eyes peeled for discounts on this one. Pixels in general tend to see the biggest price drops of all Android brands, too.

The Pixel 9a is a mid-range Android phone, but it has specs similar to those of the more expensive Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. It's powered by a Google Tensor G4 chip, has a 6.3-inch pOLED (plastic OLED) screen, has 8GB of Ram and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. Just know that it doesn't have a micro-SD card slot, so you won't be able to increase the storage.

Read our full Google Pixel 9a review.

There are still some deals on devices. Check out our round-up of the best mobile phone deals

Are there still good budget-friendly tablets?

Which? tablets expert, Jamie Darlow, says:

'Ram now accounts for around 40% of a mobile device's build costs, up from just 15% last year, prompting brands to raise prices, reduce or maintain Ram levels and other hardware, or a combination of both. 

'So, just like the shrinkflation you experience in supermarkets, your next tablet could come with 8GB or even just 6GB of Ram.'

What to buy: 11-inch Apple iPad (2025)

While Apple has raised the price of this tablet to £429, £100 more than at launch, it's still one of the best bargains for a new tablet and is the cheapest iPad since 2022.

It has a 10.9-inch screen, 6GB of Ram, 128GB of storage and uses the same A16 Bionic chip as the iPhone 15. 

Read our full Apple 11-inch iPad (2025) review.

Want to save money on a tablet? Read our page on the best iPad and tablet deals

Why are console prices going up?

Which? consumer writer, Lars Stannard, says:

'Over 2026, we've seen some pretty severe price hikes on game consoles. Microsoft, which already raised Xbox prices towards the end of 2025, increased the cost of an Xbox Series X again this August by a staggering £170, bringing the already-expensive console to £670. 

'Back in March, Sony raised the price of a PS5 by £90, meaning a new console costs £570. As with other tech, skyrocketing memory prices are the officially cited reason for this.

'Modern games require much more processing power to run smoothly, and the top-of-the-line consoles don't have much wiggle room to reduce specs and bring costs down. I wouldn't be surprised if prices continued to go up throughout 2027, so, unfortunately, if you spot the rare deal on an Xbox or PS5, it's worth buying.'

What to buy: Nintendo Switch 2

While Nintendo held off on increasing its console prices until September 2026, these hikes haven't been as dramatic as those of other consoles. The price of a Switch 2 increased by £24, and now sells for £420 at full price. 

While it's nowhere near as powerful as a PS5 or Xbox Series X, it can still play some pretty graphically intense games – on the go, too.

It's also one of the few consoles that still sees regular discounts. Check out our page on the best Nintendo Switch 2 deals to get the best price.

Keep an eye on the best deals on PlayStation 5s, or see how to save money on our page of the best Xbox bargains

Will tech prices ever fall?

We spoke to each of our experts to get their opinions:

Jamie Darlow, Which? mobile phones and tablets expert, says:

'Ram manufacturers such as Samsung have said "rising component costs" are expected to persist throughout the second half of 2026. 

'Where it goes from there is anyone's guess.'

Best Samsung deals: keep an eye on this page for tech bargains

Callum Pears, Which? senior researcher, says: 

'While many peripherals such as computer monitors, dash cams and most e-readers haven't had dramatic price increases, this is because they don't use much Ram. 

'That said, it's better to invest in the right devices for your needs in case prices do go up, especially if it's something you don't need to regularly upgrade.'

Martin Pratt, Which? TVs expert, says:

'AI development is slowing, but the component demand is still high as plans for data centres get pushed through around the world, so I don't expect any dramatic drops in Ram prices anytime soon. My worry is that brands will treat this as a new normal, so if Ram prices do go down, the prices of products won't. 

'This happened with food as inflation spiked during and after Covid. The problems that caused this have somewhat abated, but prices didn't fall to anywhere near pre-Covid levels. If Ram prices do return to pre-AI times, I don't think the cost of consumer tech will follow.'

Oliver Trebilcock, Which? laptops expert, says:

'While we'd need a crystal ball to know for sure, the AI boom isn't expected to end any time soon, so tech prices falling doesn't look likely. 

'Even if the boom starts to tail off in a few years, I've often seen prices stabilise rather than fall, unless there's a glut in supply.

'Don't delay if you need new tech; it will cost you to wait.'

Lars Stannard, Which? consumer writer, says:

'Any computer needs Ram to function. Just three companies manufacture over 90% of the world's Ram chips, and one of them, Micron, has stopped making much of its consumer-grade Ram altogether. 

'While manufacturers such as SK Hynix plan to build new chip fabrication facilities, these aren't expected to be completed before the end of 2027.

'Even if Ram chips come down in price, those aren't the only components being hoovered up by massive data centre rollouts – GPUs (graphics cards), solid-state drives (SSDs), and even hard drives are all going up in price. While Ram gets a lot of the spotlight, the increased costs of these other critical components are also likely to keep tech expensive for the foreseeable future.'

Can't you just download more Ram?

Unfortunately, you can't. 

Ram is physical hardware that sits in your machine, not software that you can install more of on a computer.