Microsoft quietly hikes UK Surface prices as RAM crunch hits checkout

Price hikes hit shoppers

It has been reported that Microsoft has raised prices on its UK Surface lineup, pushing formerly entry-level models into mid-range territory. A quick check shows the 13‑inch Surface Laptop now starts at £1,099 (up from £899 in February), the 15‑inch moves from £1,349 to £1,519, the 12‑inch Surface Pro has climbed from £779 to £999, and the 13‑inch Pro now lists at £1,199, up from £1,029. It has been reported that the changes weren't announced — Microsoft simply swapped the numbers on its store.

Blame the memory squeeze

Microsoft, it has been reported, says the hikes are down to “recent increases in memory and component costs,” a spokesperson told the outlet that first flagged the shifts. That explanation fits a wider trend: memory prices have been rising as chipmakers prioritize high-bandwidth products and supply tightens. In the US, it has been reported that some Surface configurations jumped from $999 to $1,499, so the direction of travel is familiar — steeper prices, at checkout.

Ripples across the market

This isn’t just a Microsoft problem. Suppliers and vendors from Raspberry Pi to major PC makers have nudged prices upward as DRAM and NAND get dearer, and analysts warn shipments for budget systems are already feeling the squeeze. Geopolitics, freight costs and component allocation are piling on, making cheap RAM a thing of the past — at least for now.

A £170–£220 bump on a base model stings. Who pays the bill? Consumers, apparently. Microsoft may claim it’s a supply-driven move, but the moment most people notice is the one where the price tag jumps at checkout — and that’s a feeling no one likes.

Sources: The Register