Samsung and LG Launch Laptops with Advanced AI Features
Release Prices Rise by 500,000 to 1 Million Won Over Previous Models
AI Boom and 'Chipflation' Drive Prices Higher
Soaring Memory and CPU Costs Add Up
Although a large number of new laptops with enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are being released, consumer purchasing pressure is expected to intensify due to rising component prices. As Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics launch AI PCs equipped with the latest processors, the increased cost of memory semiconductors and central processing units (CPUs) has been reflected in product prices, resulting in a significant price hike compared to previous models. Global PC manufacturers are also considering price increases, making price competitiveness a key challenge in the process of popularizing high-performance AI laptops.
According to the electronics industry on January 26, the prices of new AI laptops from Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have risen sharply compared to their predecessors. Samsung’s new Galaxy Book6 Pro is priced at 3.41 million won for the 14-inch model and 3.51 million won for the 16-inch model. The premium line, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, ranges from 4.63 million won to 4.93 million won depending on specifications. This is more than 1 million won higher than the launch price of the previous 16-inch Galaxy Book5 Pro, which was 2,458,000 won. LG Electronics has also set the launch price of its new LG Gram Pro AI 16-inch model at 3.14 million won, about 500,000 won higher than its predecessor.
The overall increase in laptop prices is largely due to the adoption of higher-spec components to support the AI features included in new products. On January 27, Samsung Electronics will release the AI PCs Galaxy Book6 Ultra and Galaxy Book6 Pro in the domestic market. The Galaxy Book6 Ultra comes in a single 40.6cm (16-inch) size, while the Galaxy Book6 Pro is available in two sizes: 40.6cm (16-inch) and 35.6cm (14-inch). Earlier this month, LG Electronics unveiled a total of seven new models, including the LG Gram Pro AI (17/16-inch), as it seeks to expand its presence in the AI laptop market.
Each manufacturer has advanced the AI features included in their new products. Running AI functions requires more memory semiconductors and high-performance computing resources. Samsung Electronics has equipped the Galaxy Book6 series with the Intel Core Ultra Processor Series 3, improving power efficiency and processing performance. The company explained that the device supports AI-based tasks such as image editing and text conversion through an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of up to 50 TOPS (trillion operations per second). The new LG Gram models are equipped with LG AI Research’s proprietary large language model (LLM) ‘EXAONE 3.5,’ enabling a wide range of on-device AI features. Users can also choose between an Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen CPU depending on their needs.
In addition, the sharp rise in memory prices has further increased manufacturing costs for laptops. Major memory manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron have focused on producing high-value AI products like high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and server DRAM, resulting in reduced supply of standard DRAM for PCs and smartphones and consequently higher prices. According to market research firm DRAMeXchange, the average fixed transaction price for standard PC DRAM (DDR4 8GB 1Gx8) rose for nine consecutive months, from $1.35 in March last year to $9.3 in December. Prices for DDR5 and NAND flash, both key laptop components, are also on the rise.
CPU price increases have also had an impact. The Intel Core Ultra Series 3, used in the Galaxy Book6 series, is the first commercial processor to use Intel’s next-generation 18A (1.8-nanometer) advanced foundry process. Due to initially low yields, manufacturing costs have risen, and this increased investment cost is being passed on to consumers.
As the manufacturing costs of laptops rise, this is directly leading to higher consumer prices. Global PC manufacturers are also announcing price increases one after another. Lenovo, the world’s largest PC company, reportedly informed major clients that existing quotes and prices would expire at the end of the year and new prices would apply from the new year. Dell, the world’s second-largest PC manufacturer, also plans to increase prices for business PCs by up to 30%.
An industry official said, “The prices of almost all key components, including CPUs and memory, have risen steeply. We are trying our best to minimize the increase in consumer prices, but it is not easy.” The official added, “Laptops are the first products to be released for the new school term, but it is expected that the prices of all products containing semiconductors, such as smartphones and cars, will rise significantly compared to last year.”
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