Intel’s older Raptor Lake processors are getting pricier as demand shifts away from the company’s latest chips. Supply chain sources indicate Intel is preparing a roughly 10% price increase for Raptor Lake CPUs in Q4 2025, with some models already seeing hikes of more than 20% in select regions such as Japan and South Korea. While not officially confirmed, the move appears tied to stronger-than-expected demand for Raptor Lake and softer adoption of newer platforms like Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake.
Despite their AI features and better power efficiency, the newest Intel processors aren’t compelling enough for many buyers. Intel has acknowledged that Lunar Lake hasn’t taken off as hoped, and months later, the picture hasn’t changed much. Yes, overall PC shipments jumped in recent quarters, but that surge is largely driven by the Windows 10 phase-out and widespread Windows 11 upgrades, particularly outside North America, rather than a rush to AI PCs.
Cost is playing a major role. Raptor Lake chips are typically more than $200 cheaper than comparable Lunar Lake options, making them attractive to both consumers and major OEMs. Brands like Lenovo, HP, and Acer continue to order Raptor Lake to build reasonably priced systems that sell quickly. At the same time, component costs are rising: DRAM prices for both DDR4 and DDR5, as well as SSD NAND, are up roughly 15–25%. Those increases make complete systems more expensive, pushing PC makers to lean on older, more cost-effective CPUs to keep prices in check.
With higher demand for Raptor Lake and a tighter supply of remaining inventory, Intel is weighing price hikes on what’s left in the channel. According to multiple reports, the effects are already showing up this month. For most users, Raptor Lake still delivers excellent performance for everyday gaming, productivity, and content creation, and there aren’t yet must-have AI features that justify paying a premium for Lunar Lake in many scenarios. Until that changes—or component prices ease—expect Raptor Lake-based PCs to remain popular, even as their prices edge upward.
