The cost of lots of the devices we all use could be forced up in 2026 because the price of Ram - once one of the cheapest computer components - has more than doubled since October 2025.

The tech powers everything from smartphones to smart TVs, as well as things like medical devices.

Its price has shot up because of the explosive growth in the data centres which power AI, which need Ram too.

That's caused an imbalance between supply and demand which means everyone has to pay more.

Manufacturers often choose to swallow small cost increases, but big ones tend to get passed on to consumers.