The consumer electronics industry is grappling with escalating costs, exacerbated by persistent semiconductor shortages. Now, ominous signals are also surfacing in the software realm. Microsoft is set to implement a licensing fee hike for Windows 11, with increases ranging from 7% to 10%—a steeper rise compared to previous years. Notably, CPUs boasting superior performance will incur even higher fees. In response, industry bellwethers ASUS and Acer are poised to raise their product prices by approximately 5% later this year. This follows a notable trend, as the average price of ASUS products has already surged by 30% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.