Technology remains central to modern business operations. In 2026, however, it’s also becoming more expensive.

Across the market, organisations are experiencing rising IT hardware costs driven by higher component prices, global supply pressures, and increasing demand for AI-ready infrastructure. One of the most significant contributors is the rising cost of RAM, which is pushing up prices across everything from laptops to enterprise servers.

While these increases may be unavoidable, the financial impact doesn’t have to be.

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What’s Driving the Price Increases?

Business IT equipment costs are rising for several key reasons:

• RAM prices are climbing as manufacturers prioritise advanced memory for AI data centres, reducing supply for standard commercial hardware.

• Production shifts away from older memory types are causing limited availability, increasing demand and driving prices up.

• Higher baseline specifications mean even “standard” devices now come with more advanced components and higher price tags than in previous refresh cycles.

It’s not just memory but SSD pricing has also risen steeply. Solid State Drives are used in virtually every device with storage including laptops, desktops, servers, and specialist equipment. Just last year, a 1TB SSD could be sourced for around £40, today, that same capacity can exceed £150. When multiplied across fleet upgrades or infrastructure refreshes, the financial impact becomes significant.

The result is a market where delaying upgrades can often mean paying more later, not less.

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The Budget Challenge for Businesses

Most businesses already understand what technology they need. The real challenge lies in funding it without tying up valuable cash or disrupting day-to-day operations.

Large upfront purchases can:

• Reduce working capital

• Limit financial flexibility

• Force delays that increase long-term costs

That’s why more organisations are building finance into their IT strategy.

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Planning Ahead: Refresh Cycles & Price Protection

In a rising-cost environment, reviewing your IT refresh cycle is more important than ever. Waiting for equipment to fail or delaying upgrades in the hope that prices will fall may expose your business to even higher costs later. Current market forecasts suggest component pricing pressures are likely to continue.

Having a proactive discussion about your refresh plans allows businesses to:

• Lock in pricing at today’s levels

• Secure stock before further supply constraints

• Spread costs in a structured, predictable way

• Avoid reactive, higher-cost purchases

By acting early, businesses can protect budgets against further price increases while ensuring continuity of operations.

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How Bluestone Supports Your IT Investment

Bluestone helps businesses fund IT equipment in a way that’s simple, flexible, and aligned with cash flow.

By spreading the cost of technology over time, finance enables businesses to:

• Upgrade equipment without large upfront payments

• Preserve cash for growth and operational priorities

• Move forward with purchases now, before prices rise further

• Align repayments with the useful lifespan of the equipment

From laptops and desktops to servers and specialist IT infrastructure, Bluestone supports a wide range of technology assets — helping businesses stay productive, competitive, and future-ready.

Our approach is straightforward:

• Fast applications

• Clear, transparent terms

• Decisions built around real business needs

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Plan with Confidence in a Changing Market

IT hardware pricing in 2026 reflects a market in transition. While businesses can’t control global supply chains or component costs, they can control how they fund their technology.

With Bluestone, rising tech costs don’t have to slow you down. You get the equipment your business needs and secured at the right time, on terms that make sense.

Contact us and we would be happy to help you further.

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