Business · Companies · 8 hrs ago
Rising memory costs push buyers toward refurbished technology
Rising memory costs are pushing more customers toward refurbished technology, according to suppliers.
Memory prices have more than quadrupled this year as manufacturers prioritize high-bandwidth memory for servers used in AI data centers.
Many businesses are also keeping equipment longer amid economic uncertainty, while trade-in programs can help them recover value from older devices.
Warranties of up to three years can make refurbished equipment easier to trust, and some suppliers offer support comparable to that for new products.
But limited availability remains a challenge, partly because customers do not always trade in their old devices.
Buyers also want clear checks on equipment quality, and suppliers are working with HP, Lenovo and Dell on verification standards.
Those standards could help make refurbished gear a more trusted option as businesses consider future equipment purchases.
Rising memory prices are pushing more customers to consider refurbished technology, suppliers say.
Memory costs have more than quadrupled this year as manufacturers prioritize high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers.
Warranties of up to three years and equivalent support services are helping make refurbished equipment more attractive.
Suppliers say limited availability and the need for customer trust remain challenges.
Omdia analyst Ben Caddy predicts that by 2030, partners will take back 35 percent of hardware sold through the channel.
- Who
- Buyers are considering refurbished technology, according to suppliers.
- What
- Rising memory costs are pushing more customers toward refurbished equipment.
- When
- The trend is described in an article published on November 9, 2026; memory costs have more than quadrupled this year.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Component costs are rising, while warranties and support can make refurbished equipment more appealing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Memory costs have more than quadrupled as manufacturers prioritize high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers.
Ben Caddy discussed circular IT at the Canalys Forums in Barcelona.
Caddy predicted that partners will take back 35 percent of hardware sold through the channel.
- Memory costs
- More than quadrupled this year
- Warranty
- Up to three years
- Predicted take-back share
- 35 percent of channel hardware sold by 2030
- XTENTEC trade-in financing
- Residual value financed when equipment is returned after two, three, or four years
- Verification work
- Ongoing with HP, Lenovo, and Dell
What people are saying
by the sheer economic logic of taking equipment back, recovering value, and embracing more circular IT lifecycles.
Availability is a challenge
The customers have to trust the refurbished equipment and have to trust the process.
We're actually financing the residual value