As schools and educational institutions gear up for a new academic year, the ongoing chip shortage poses a significant challenge to the procurement of essential student devices. This shortage, caused in part by a surge in demand for AI-capable devices, has shifted the procurement landscape and altered the way educational leaders approach device purchases. As they navigate rising costs and fluctuating availability, school technology leaders must adjust their strategies to equip students.
In this blog, we'll explore the impact of the chip shortage on student device purchases and uncover key strategies for making informed investments that prioritize performance and sustainability.
The massive industry pivot toward AI-integrated hardware has fundamentally changed component pricing. Manufacturers are prioritizing high-end chips for data centers and "AI PCs," which has created a trickle-down effect on the memory (DRAM) and storage (NAND) used in student devices.
The Strategy: Re-evaluate your "minimum viable spec." What was a standard 8GB RAM configuration in 2024 may no longer provide a 4-year lifespan in 2026. Budget for the 16GB jump now to avoid a premature—and more expensive—refresh cycle in 24 months.
In a volatile market, price points for "entry-level" education devices often remain static, even as component costs rise. This creates a divergence in the market: some configurations may prioritize immediate affordability, while others prioritize long-term performance stability.
The Strategy: Move beyond the sticker price. Conduct a deep-dive comparison of internal components between this year’s models and last year’s. Ensure that storage speeds and processor generations haven't been dialed back to hit a specific price bracket. Your goal is total cost of ownership (TCO)—a slightly higher upfront investment often prevents a significant performance drop-off in years three and four.
We are seeing shorter guaranteed price windows from vendors due to fluctuating raw material costs and international shipping rates. The days of a 90-day quote are largely over.
The Strategy: Streamline your internal approval workflows. If your procurement process typically takes 60 days from quote to PO, you may find yourself hit with mid-cycle price adjustments. Work with your finance teams to create "pre-approved" price ranges that allow you to pull the trigger when market conditions are favorable.
As a consortium, OETC helps members avoid the worst of these supply struggles in three ways:
“Heading into the 2026 buying season, I’m hearing a consistent concern from CIOs and Technology Directors across our membership: device prices are going up.
You aren’t imagining it—device prices are rising. The global move toward AI-capable hardware has created a bottleneck for the RAM used in Chromebooks.
At OETC, we believe every dollar spent on an overpriced device is a dollar taken away from instruction. We aren't just reacting to this market; we’ve spent months tracking these shortages to prepare a strategy for you. We use our collective purchasing power and long-standing relationships with manufacturers to fight for the best possible pricing for our members.”
— Amber Watkins, VP of Sales at OETC