Global consumers face potential price hikes for computers and various electronic devices as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a leading chip producer, prepares to increase prices for its most advanced semiconductors, driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence components.
Industry sources indicate that TSMC plans to implement these price adjustments starting in 2026, specifically targeting sub-5 nanometer process nodes crucial for cutting-edge technology. Initial increases are expected to range from 3% to 10% for these advanced nodes.
Reports suggest that price hikes for transitional processes like 2 nanometers could be significantly higher, with some speculation indicating increases exceeding 50% relative to 3 nanometer costs.
TSMC had already informed its clients in September 2025 about its intention to raise prices for the upcoming year. This move comes as sub-5 nanometer processes are reportedly operating at nearly 100% utilization.
The intense demand for AI chips and high-performance computing (HPC) is a primary driver behind the scarcity in advanced chip manufacturing capacity. Rising production costs, including capital expenditure, advanced EUV lithography, labor, and logistics, also contribute to the necessity for price adjustments to maintain the company’s profit margins.
These higher wafer costs are expected to significantly impact manufacturers of central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), mobile system-on-chips (SoCs), and AI accelerators. Consequently, a portion of these increased expenses is likely to be passed on to the end consumer.
Recent industry reports, including those from Guru3D, emphasize that commonly used CPUs and GPUs are expected to become more expensive following TSMC’s price adjustments, directly affecting the cost of personal computers and other consumer electronics.