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The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices

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The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices
Published: April 08, 2026 at 19:32 | Source: theverge.com
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Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech Gaming Close Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Gaming News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices SSDs now cost double or even triple what they did in December, with HDD prices on the rise, too. SSDs now cost double or even triple what they did in December, with HDD prices on the rise, too. by Stevie Bonifield Close Stevie Bonifield News Writer Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Stevie Bonifield Apr 8, 2026, 7:32 PM UTC Link Share Gift Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images Part Of RAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortage see all updates Stevie Bonifield Close Stevie Bonifield Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI. I thought the WD Black SN850X 2TB SSD in my gaming PC was pricey when I bought it for $173 in 2024, but now that same SSD costs $649 , more than what I paid for most of the parts in my PC combined. The price on my WD Black drive nearly quadrupled since November 2025, and consumer SSDs across the board are seeing similar increases, much like with RAM : The 4TB version of the popular Samsung 990 Pro SSD previously cost $320, but will now run you nearly $1,000. External SanDisk SSDs saw a 200 percent price hike at the Apple Store in March. Sony has announced that it’s suspending orders for its SD and CFexpress cards. Modular PC brand Framework has warned its customers of more price hikes as it runs out of its existing storage inventory. Even hard disks are feeling the squeeze — as of February, Western Digital and Seagate were reportedly nearly sold out of all of their inventory for 2026. According to price trends from PC Part Picker , NVMe SSD prices began ticking upward in December 2025, with prices on 256GB to 4TB SSDs now double or triple what they were just a few months ago, and continuing to climb. Like with RAM, demand from the AI industry is swallowing up supply from a limited number of manufacturers, leading to a drastic reduction in the inventory that’s available to consumers. According to Counterpoint Research, the same few brands with the biggest RAM market share also control the global NAND market — Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Related The RAM shortage is here to stay, raising prices on PCs and phones Lenovo Legion Go 2 suddenly costs $650 more as RAMageddon lays waste to gaming hardware NAND flash is the type of memory used for SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards. It’s significantly faster and more energy-efficient than mechanical HDDs. As a result, NAND storage is more appealing for AI companies and consumers alike. Even so, HDDs are more cost-effective for storing large amounts of data, like the huge datasets needed for AI, which could explain why HDD prices are also on the rise . For instance, the 2TB Seagate Barracuda 3.5-inch HDD I have in my PC was $47 when I bought it a few years ago, but now costs $90. All three leading NAND brands have been pulling in huge profits from the AI boom, profits the consumer market can’t compete with. Micron even left the consumer RAM and SSD market last year, which briefly sparked rumors that Samsung might do the same thing. As of March, Micron says it’s “seeing NAND demand significantly in excess of our available supply for the foreseeable future,” as its NAND revenue has grown 169 percent year-over-year . Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Stevie Bonifield Close Stevie Bonifield News Writer Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Stevie Bonifield Gaming Close Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Gaming News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News PC Gaming Close PC Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All PC Gaming Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech More in: RAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortage Lenovo Legion Go 2 suddenly costs $650 more as RAMageddon lays waste to gaming hardware Sean Hollister Apr 3 These Raspberry Pi price hikes are no joke Stevie Bonifield Apr 1 So
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  • Follow Follow See All News The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices SSDs now cost double or even triple what they did in December, with HDD prices on the rise, too.
Detailed Coverage

Market analysis reveals significant growth potential in the sector discussed in 'The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices'. Investment patterns and market trends indicate strong confidence in these technologies, with venture capital and corporate investments driving further innovation and development.

User experience and accessibility are key themes that emerge from the analysis of 'The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices'. The focus on creating intuitive, user-friendly interfaces demonstrates a commitment to making advanced technology accessible to broader audiences and diverse user groups.

The competitive landscape highlighted in 'The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices' shows how different organizations are positioning themselves in this rapidly evolving market. Strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and research collaborations are shaping the future direction of technological development.

Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency considerations are increasingly important in the context of 'The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices'. The industry is moving towards more sustainable practices and green technologies to address climate change and environmental concerns.

Education and skill development play crucial roles in the adoption and advancement of technologies discussed in 'The AI RAM shortage is also driving up SSD prices'. The need for specialized talent and continuous learning programs highlights the importance of human capital in technological progress.
Article Details
Published: April 08, 2026 at 19:32
Source: theverge.com
Original link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/908916/ssd-storage-shortages-price-increases
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