If it feels like laptops cost more than they did two years ago, that's not just inflation talking. Several forces collided at once, and most of them have nothing to do with the laptop itself.
The Real Reasons Behind the Price Jump
Chip shortages that never fully recovered -Manufacturers cut production during the global slowdown, and rebuilding that capacity takes years, so laptop brands are still competing for limited chip supply.
Memory and storage costs climbing -RAM and SSD manufacturing is dominated by a handful of global players, so when one cuts production, prices move across every laptop brand almost overnight.
A weaker Rand against the Dollar -Laptops are priced in Dollars at the point of manufacture, so every time the Rand weakens, the landed cost in South Africa rises, even if the laptop itself hasn't changed.
Shipping and import costs still elevated -Freight rates spiked during global supply chain disruptions and have settled well above pre-2020 levels, adding cost to every unit imported.
Rising component demand from AI infrastructure -Data centres now compete for the same chips and memory used in everyday laptops, pulling supply away and pushing prices up for consumer devices.
VAT on an already inflated cost -Most fully assembled laptops actually carry no import duty into South Africa, but the standard 15% VAT still applies, and it's calculated on a Rand-converted cost that's already inflated by currency weakness, so the tax burden grows in step with everything else.
Here's the Part Retailers Don't Always Tell You
None of these pressures ease up on new stock any time soon. But certified pre-owned laptops at TechMarkit sidestep almost all of them, since the device was already manufactured and imported before these cost increases hit, you're not paying for today's chip shortage, exchange rate, or shipping premium.
What This Means for Your Next Upgrade
- New laptops will likely keep climbing as chip supply, currency pressure, and AI demand continue to build.
- Certified pre-owned devices lock in yesterday's pricing on hardware that's tested and warrantied today.
- Waiting it out rarely helps, none of these pressures are reversing, so prices are more likely to climb further than correct downward.
The Smarter Way to Upgrade
You can't control global chip shortages or the Rand's exchange rate. You can control where you buy.
TechMarkit stocks both new and pre-owned devices, so whichever route makes sense for your budget, you're covered.
Ready to see today's pricing for yourself? Shop devices at TechMarkit →