Intel Set to Raise CPU Prices by Another 10% in October

Intel is reportedly planning another 10% price increase on PC CPUs in October, according to DIGITIMES. This would be the latest in a string of price hikes made in stages over the past year. The report doesn't specify whether this price increase will affect only desktop CPUs or whether mobile CPUs will also be included. Industry sources cited by the outlet say the goal is to improve gross margin rather than growing market share. That would be especially important, since global PC shipments are expected to dip slightly from 260 million to about 250 million units in 2027, even as prices continue to climb. If Intel can push CPU shipments back up toward 200 million units, DIGITIMES estimates its market share could recover to roughly 78%.

The report also claims Intel is considering ending its low-margin Small Core product line entirely, which could open the door for Qualcomm and MediaTek to expand further into the industrial PC and IoT chip markets that Intel currently leads. On staffing, sources suggest another 5% to 10% of the workforce could be cut, following Intel's trim of its Data Center and AI group in July. Headcount reportedly sits around 75,000 now, though the same sources say Intel plans to keep hiring alongside any cuts, and that its current size is already reasonable. Read full story