Lenovo is warning its channel partners that PC and device prices could rise as soon as March 2026, and it’s encouraging them to act fast if they want to lock in current pricing. According to a recent update shared with partners, Lenovo’s North America Channel Chief, Wade McFarland, is urging orders to be placed as quickly as possible—ideally by February 25—to reduce the risk of paying more next month.
The message comes as more hardware vendors signal price increases across the industry, and Lenovo appears to be preparing its own pricing refresh for select commercial products. The changes are expected to impact parts of Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group portfolio, which includes PCs, tablets, and smartphones. One of the key drivers behind the shift is rising DRAM costs, which Lenovo says are affecting both its device business and its infrastructure-focused group.
What makes this update especially important for partners is that timing isn’t just about when an order is submitted—it may also depend on when that order ships. Lenovo’s guidance indicates that orders received before February 28, 2026 could still be subject to repricing if they don’t ship by March 31, 2026. In other words, even partners who place orders ahead of the deadline may not be fully protected from higher prices if fulfillment slips into the later window.
McFarland also emphasized that Lenovo’s pricing is influenced by both order timing and fulfillment timing, and that pricing is reviewed periodically as market conditions change. That combination—volatile component costs plus shipping timelines—has added uncertainty for resellers and solution providers trying to quote customers and plan inventory.
Lenovo’s North America president, Ryan McCurdy, acknowledged the pressure behind the decision, noting that the company has had to keep adjusting and that there’s “no way around it.” But some partners are worried about what the policy means in practice. One executive at a major Lenovo partner, speaking anonymously, described the concern plainly: Lenovo may accept an order, but if it can’t ship in time, that order could be repriced—potentially leaving the partner to either absorb the difference or renegotiate with their customer.
Alongside the potential price hike, Lenovo is also tightening quote validity windows. Price quotes will now be limited to 14 days on Lenovo’s internal bidding platform, while quotes on the external platform used by resellers—including distributors and solution providers—will be valid for 30 days. Lenovo’s infrastructure group has also started repricing select deals, reinforcing the broader trend toward shorter pricing commitments.
For Lenovo partners, the takeaway is simple: waiting could cost more. With deadlines tied to both purchase date and shipping date, Lenovo is effectively advising partners to place orders early—by February 25 if possible—so distributors have enough time to submit everything by February 28 and reduce the odds of a repricing event in March.
