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More bad news for gadget fans: one of the industry’s biggest suppliers, Qualcomm, is increasing its prices. According to Bloomberg, Qualcomm told its commercial customers it would be hiking the price of processors shipped after Sept. 1
Qualcomm didn’t specify the exact price changes or which products would be affected, but it reportedly told customers to expect a “percentage in the double digits.”
According to Bloomberg, Qualcomm told its customers it had worked hard to “absorb higher costs from suppliers” while it looked for other alternatives to keep prices low. This increase is likely fueled by a shortage of tech due to the ongoing RAM and storage crisis, with many companies struggling to secure components at competitive prices
If Qualcomm increases its processor prices by 10% or more, manufacturers will likely pass that cost on to consumers with their retail pricing
For example, Samsung’s recently announced Galaxy Z Flip 8 is $1,199 compared with $1,099 for 2025’s Galaxy Z Flip 7. The most recent phone is also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which may cost Samsung more to use from early September. If Samsung wants to protect its profit, it may mean a Z Flip 8 price increase to help shoulder that cost
It isn’t just smartphones, though. Qualcomm tech powers many other gadgets like smartwatches, smart glasses, and more. In May, Qualcomm said Windows laptops around $300 to $500 would be possible with its upcoming Snapdragon C processor. These price hikes may mean we see more laptops toward the higher end of that range
Previously announced devices, such as the Steam Frame, may also be impacted. Valve is using a Qualcomm chip to power the upcoming virtual reality headset, though it has yet to announce the headset’s price. If Valve ships the Steam Frame after Sept. 1, its price may be even higher than initially expected to help offset the processor’s cost
Price hikes are one of the most common tech trends in 2026, with many products, from Apple devices to gaming consoles, seeing higher prices than before
