The range of laptops from brands that previously left the country has begun to decline on the Russian market. For example, the choice of modifications for Dell, HP and Apple laptops has decreased by about 10%. According to distributors, this is primarily due to the tightening of gadget certification rules, which has made it economically unprofitable to import laptops in small quantities.
In August 2026, the procedure for obtaining certificates of conformity for imported laptops, as well as headphones and chargers, changed. Each supplier must independently obtain a compliance document for each batch of imported laptops. Previously, a certificate could be issued by a manufacturer or a large distributor, after which other market participants could import the same article.
Due to changes in the certification procedure, it has become unprofitable to supply small batches of laptops. It is preferable for suppliers to import more popular Chinese laptops than products from the same Dell, HP and Apple, which are supplied in small volumes. How write Izvestia, innovations in certification have already led to the fact that the range of laptops, in particular American brands, has begun to decline.
The Association of Electronics Manufacturers and Sellers RATEK confirmed the fact that the supply of laptops has become difficult, since manufacturers that have left the Russian market do not certify them. Association representative Anton Guskov said that while certification is being carried out, the laptops are in customs temporary storage warehouses, the services of which are expensive and this is reflected in the cost and delivery time of the devices. “At the same time, new products arrive in Russia in smaller volumes and at higher prices,” – he noted.
Leading analyst at Mobile Research Group Eldar Murtazin claims that changes in certification rules have led to an increase in laptop prices by 3-4%. He also said that the range of brands such as Dell, HP and Apple had decreased by about 10% on the Russian market. According to the expert, self-certification of small batches, especially for small distributors, can make their sales in Russia unprofitable.
NTI expert on technological development Ilya Ilyinsky cited ITResearch data, according to which, in August, laptop sales decreased by 35% year-on-year. It becomes unprofitable to certify a configuration that is shipped in small quantities. With accessories, if they are included in the same list, the situation is similar, the expert says.
Dmitry Nechaev, head of the “Computer Equipment” category of the united company Wildberries & Russ, noted that the cost of devices is influenced by a number of factors, including component prices, exchange rates, logistics and changes in market regulation. Over the year, DRAM and SSD prices have risen by more than 60%, added Andrey Petrenko, director of the Computer Equipment department at VVP Group. He believes that additional factors will be the technology fee, which will be introduced on December 1, 2026, and mandatory labeling of electronics. “In the coming months, the market will adapt to new requirements: re-issuance of certificates takes two to three months, so the range of individual models may be limited until the end of the year. Then supply will partially recover,” – the expert predicts.
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