US — The Verge
Intel says it’s selling every affordable laptop chip it can make
Chips1 min read
Intel says demand for its cheap Wildcat Lake laptop chips is higher than it can supply, and the chips are now sold out. The company also says computer memory shortages will not get better in 2027.
Intel's cheap chips sell out
During an earnings call (a meeting where a company talks about its money results with investors), Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan said demand for the budget-focused Wildcat Lake chips is greater than supply. CFO David Zinsner said the chips are now sold out. These chips are showing up in new, lower-cost Windows laptops.
Key facts
- Wildcat Lake laptops are often sold with just 8GB of RAM (the memory a computer uses to run apps).
- Examples include the new Dell XPS 13 and the HP Omnibook 5 14.
- Intel says memory supply will not improve in 2027. It will see if things get better in 2028.
- SK Hynix, a memory maker, predicts the RAM shortage will last through 2030.
Why laptop prices are rising
Shortages of RAM and other parts have pushed up PC prices in recent months. Many people who want a cheap laptop now have fewer choices. Windows laptops with only 8GB of RAM can struggle to run smoothly, so buyers should look closely at the specs.
Why this matters
Cheap laptops help students and families get computers. If chips and memory stay in short supply, prices may stay high for longer. Intel says it still expects the PC to have a comeback, which it calls a renaissance, even with the shortages.
What to watch
- Whether memory prices and supply improve in 2027 or 2028.
- Whether more companies release Wildcat Lake laptops.
- Whether Intel can make enough chips to meet demand.
Glossary
- Intel
- A company that makes computer chips, the small parts that do the thinking inside computers.
- Wildcat Lake
- Intel's budget-focused chip line used in lower-cost Windows laptops.
- RAM
- Memory a computer uses to run apps. More RAM usually helps a computer run many things at once.
- SK Hynix
- A company that makes memory chips for computers and phones.
- earnings call
- A meeting where a company's leaders talk about money results and plans with investors.