Shoppers preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday will encounter higher prices this year as the global economy deals with pressures like the artificial intelligence industry’s memory crisis and the ongoing war in Iran. Consumer electronics, including smartphones and gaming consoles, have seen significant price increases across the board.
Impact on Gadgets and Devices
Although numerous sales have already started, the discounts may appear less impressive than in previous years. Products requiring substantial amounts of random-access memory (RAM) will feature weaker deals, while gadgets with lower memory dependency—such as robot vacuums and headphones—might offer better savings.
Jitesh Ubrani, director of Consumer Devices Research at IDC, explained that prices are rising and will likely remain elevated well into 2027 or 2028. He noted that personal computers, tablets, and similar devices present the biggest struggles for shoppers.
Amazon has already increased prices on its newest Kindles, tablets, and Echo speakers, indicating that upcoming discounts on those hardware items will likely fail to match past events. Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky, who runs the Consumer World website, pointed out that Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain the top shopping days annually, but cautioned shoppers regarding advertised savings.
Dworsky stated in a message to WIRED that an item advertised with major savings claims does not automatically represent a good deal or the lowest price. He suggested monitoring Amazon prices through history tools like CamelCamelCamel, utilizing Google Chrome’s built-in tracker, or employing third-party browser extensions.
Dworsky anticipates that laptops, desktops, and solid-state drives will still appear on sale due to high memory costs, though prices will not drop nearly as low as past offers.
Refurbished Options and Consumer Advice
Purchasing used or refurbished electronics presents a viable alternative for buyers. Sean Cleland, vice president of Mobility Tech at product resale firm BStock Solutions, reported that certain manufacturers are increasingly selling refurbished units, sometimes purchasing them directly from resellers to fill budget smartphone market gaps.
Cleland noted that manufacturers are buying back their own inventory on the secondary market to refurbish and sell items as authorized or certified renewed products, attempting to retrieve everything possible.
Companies manufacturing these goods retain the ability to set costs and have successfully passed extra expenses onto buyers amid market turmoil. Ubrani stated that consumers face a difficult situation with no positive updates regarding relief.
Because the memory crisis will persist for a long time, current purchases might represent the best available rates for a while, making it a suitable moment to buy necessary items. Ubrani advised buyers to focus on genuine needs and select devices that will remain functional for an extended period.
Ubrani advised that buyers should acquire the highest performance they can afford currently, as elevated pricing will persist for years and devices need to last.
