'Up to 75% higher': Experts say your next SSD or memory upgrade will get a
lot more expensive and I fear the Iran war will make it even worse

Date:
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:35:00 +0000

Description:
Memory and storage costs are rising sharply due to AI demand, limited production, and tight allocation across multiple product segments.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Conventional DRAM prices are set to rise
5863% quarter over quarter. Current projections exclude potential impacts
from the US, Israel, and Iran regional conflict. AI infrastructure is
shifting production away from consumer memory markets rapidly. The cost of memory and storage components is rising sharply, with new projections indicating significant increases across multiple segments.

New data from Trendforce shows conventional DRAM contract prices are expected to climb between 58% and 63% quarter over quarter, while NAND Flash prices could surge by as much as 70% to 75%. A major factor behind these increases
is the continued expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, which
is drawing capacity away from consumer markets. Article continues below You may like 'Sharp, irreversible hikes': Think RAM price surges are bad?
Analysts say AI will cause SSDs' NAND components to shoot up in price permanently - with no ceiling in sight RAM price hike crisis could get even worse as US threatens 100% tariffs DRAM prices set to almost double by March 2026, and yes, we all have our AI overlords to thank for that wonderful news AI demand reshapes supply priorities Suppliers are reallocating production toward high-margin server applications, including enterprise SSDs and high-capacity memory modules used in AI systems.

This shift is tightening availability for consumer-grade components, forcing buyers to compete for reduced supply.

Demand for enterprise SSDs has shown little sign of slowing, as large-scale
AI deployments continue to expand.

Cloud storage service providers are reportedly willing to accept higher prices and secure long-term agreements to guarantee access to critical components. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

This dynamic strengthens supplier leverage, allowing them to maintain
elevated pricing levels despite softer demand in traditional markets.

While suppliers are increasing output through process improvements and higher-density technologies, overall capacity growth remains constrained.

Meaningful expansion is not expected until late 2027 or 2028, leaving a prolonged period of tight supply conditions. What to read next Samsung RAM prices have doubled and the worst is yet to come We are only able to supply, for our key customers in the midterm, about 50% to two-thirds of their requirements: Micron CEO forecasts production spend increase to meet the insane demand for memory but the RAM crisis will only get worse PC sales set for a 2026 downturn as memory demand hits other devices

At the same time, manufacturers are deliberately limiting shipments to lower-margin segments, including client SSDs and NAND wafers, to preserve profitability.

In mobile and embedded storage markets, the situation appears similarly constrained.

Although smartphone demand has weakened, requirements for high-speed memory driven by AI features remain stable.

Automotive and industrial sectors have also contributed to demand recovery, further complicating supply allocation decisions.

As a result, some categories, particularly eMMC and UFS, are facing
especially tight supply gaps with corresponding price increases.

The effects of constrained supply are visible across nearly all memory categories.

Graphics memory prices are rising due to limited capacity allocation, while consumer DRAM continues to face shortages as suppliers reduce their exposure to lower-margin products.

Even where demand has softened, reduced shipments have kept pricing elevated by limiting availability.

Buyers in the retail market are responding to these conditions by adjusting purchasing strategies, with some opting to rebuild inventories in
anticipation of further increases.

However, rising costs are also suppressing demand in segments such as memory cards and USB storage, where margins are already thin.

Interestingly, the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, which is widely expected to disrupt supply chains and potentially push prices higher, was not factored into the current projections.

Our analysts have not included the regional conflict in their current pricing models, as there has been no substantial disruption to memory supply observed at this stage, TrendForce told TechRadar Pro. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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