As If the RAM Crisis Wasn’t Enough, Microsoft Is Raising the Price on Windows 11
Microsoft is reportedly increasing the licensing fees it charges for Windows 11, adding another cost pressure for PC buyers already contending with soaring memory prices. According to Taiwanese outlet Economic Daily News, cited by PCMag, the fee rise affects OEM manufacturers that build and sell complete systems, rather than individuals buying a licence key for a self-built PC, and comes as computing hardware generally has become markedly more expensive throughout 2026.
The licence fee increase is reportedly up to 10%, though it varies by processor, meaning laptops with more powerful chips, such as an Intel Core i7, will incur a larger fee than those with a Core i3. Windows licensing typically makes up a small share of a laptop's overall price, but manufacturers Asus and Acer are said to be raising their prices by roughly 5% later this year regardless. This follows a wider pattern of rising tech costs in 2026, including a pricier-than-planned Steam Machine launch and Microsoft's own increases to Xbox Series X and S prices, all linked to the ongoing RAM shortage, which shows little sign of easing as manufacturers report they are already selling into their 2027 production capacity.
- Microsoft reportedly raising Windows 11 OEM licensing fees by up to 10%
- Fee scales with processor; Asus and Acer to raise prices ~5%
- Comes amid broader 2026 tech price rises driven by the RAM crisis
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Windows is the operating system that runs most PCs, and computer makers pay Microsoft to install it on the laptops and desktops they sell. Those makers, known as original equipment manufacturers, include firms such as Asus and Acer; people building their own PCs usually buy a separate licence.
The licence is one part of a computer’s total cost, alongside components such as memory, or RAM, and the processor. When these costs rise, manufacturers may pass some of the increase on to buyers, so new PCs can become more expensive.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Microsoft faces genuine cost pressures across its operations and must sustain investment in Windows development, security updates, and infrastructure. A 10% increase is modest and reflects real economic challenges throughout the technology industry; all major firms are raising prices due to commodity shortages and supply constraints. The licensing fee remains a small portion of overall PC pricing, and the tiered approach by processor ensures proportional cost allocation rather than blanket increases.
The case against
PC buyers already face significant affordability pressures from RAM shortages and rising component costs, and Microsoft—as an enormously profitable company with dominant market position—is uniquely positioned to absorb cost increases rather than pass them to consumers. Raising prices during a supply crisis appears opportunistic and contradicts corporate social responsibility, particularly when operating system licensing remains a semi-captive market where alternatives are limited. Powerful companies should absorb temporary costs rather than using crises as cover to expand margins.