Microsoft is raising Windows OEM licensing fees by 7% to 10% starting in July 2026, according to United Daily News. This annual adjustment scales based on CPU specifications, with higher-end processors incurring the most significant licensing cost increases.
Major manufacturers like ASUS and ACER have confirmed price hikes for Windows-based systems in Q3 2026. ASUS reports that average product prices have already surged 30% since late 2025, as OEMs pass these rising software and hardware costs to consumers.
The price surge follows a drop in PC shipments and severe component shortages driven by AI demand. With costs rising for memory, storage, and processors, analysts expect overall PC prices to climb an additional 5% during the third quarter of next year.