RAMageddon is here. As you've no doubt heard (or experienced), the price of RAM has skyrocketed in the space of just a few weeks, with everything from laptops, games consoles, phones, tablets and more seeing a significant surge in cost.
With a huge influx of demand from AI and data center companies scooping up DDR5 RAM and SSD memory, consumers are seeing prices spiking not just for RAM and storage for their computers, but also for everything that uses it. Given the tech industry's infatuation with AI, this problem likely won't end soon.
A lot is happening, and we're here to break it down for you with the latest updates on current price hikes on RAM, how companies like Apple, Samsung, Dell and more are reacting, and our expert advice on what to buy before costs explode further.
RAM crisis: What's happening?
- Massive spikes: Consumer RAM prices have skyrocketed due to a tight supply. Major PC companies have issued warnings of price hikes, with CyberPowerPC stating: "global memory (RAM) prices have surged by 500% and SSD prices have risen by 100%."
- All for AI: The push for increased cloud computing, as seen in the likes of ChatGPT and Gemini, means more data centers are needed, which in turn requires High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). Manufacturers like SK Hynix and Micron are now shifting priorities to make HBM instead of PC RAM.
- Limited supply: Companies are now buying up stock of all the remaining supply of standard DRAM chips, leaving crumbs for the consumer market and price hikes for the limited supply there is.
Latest stories
- Samsung reportedly raises DDR5 RAM prices by 100% with 'no stock' left
- Half-Life 3 and Steam Machine could be delayed — and you can blame the RAM price crisis for that
- MacBook and iPhone prices could rise in 2026, as Apple’s RAM supply advantage begins to fade
- Framework says it will not 'gouge customers like Dell' in RAM price crisis
- RAMageddon is finally coming for your smartphones and laptops according to new report
- It is now cheaper to buy a pre-built gaming PC than building one yourself — this RAM price crisis is only going to get worse from here
- Brace yourself: PCs, laptops and phones may jump in price as early as December thanks to a '500%' RAM/SSD surge
- RAM crisis continues to worsen — Micron kills Crucial consumer memory in favor of AI data centers
- A major RAM price rise will impact laptops, PCs and GPUs in 2026
Welcome to the RAMageddon live blog!
Hello, everyone! With RAM prices out of control, we're here to keep you updated on all the latest RAM pricing news and developments. Be sure to bookmark this page so you don't miss out. As we said in the intro, we'll have the latest updates, insight from industry insiders, and our own thoughts on this ongoing situation.
RAMageddon is coming for your smartphones and laptops
Up to this point, the ongoing RAM crisis has been limited to purchasable consumer memory, but it was inevitable that RAMageddon would eventually impact more technology. A new analyst report from TrendForce, the market intelligence and consulting firm, claims that the memory price surge will affect smartphone and laptop manufacturers heading into 2026.
Consequently, according to the report, smartphone companies like Apple and Samsung will likely raise prices while reducing RAM capacity. It could also lead to a reduction in the number of devices actually produced by these companies.
It is now cheaper to buy a pre-built gaming PC than building one yourself
For the first time since we can remember, it’s actually cheaper to get a pre-built PC than it is to build it yourself. It comes down to one key thing: stock. Most retailers and computing brands will have these ready-made and good to go from their warehouses — using the stockpile of RAM and SSDs they already have on their books.
A lot of companies saw this starting to happen and managed to get their orders in early enough to keep themselves sort of protected from what’s happening now, which is why you see the price differential. If you were to buy parts now, you’re buying at the current market price.
Going the DIY route used to be the lower-cost way, because the added cost of the company building it is removed (you build it yourself after all). But the massively rising cost of RAM has brought it to the point where the time to build it yourself is actually more expensive than just getting someone else to do it for you.
Framework slams Dell: Won't 'gouge customers' amid RAM crisis
Framework has called out the likes of Dell and Apple for the huge cost bump between RAM configurations. In a post on X (which appears to have been deleted), the modular laptop maker announced that it will "need to increase memory pricing soon." Now, Framework has announced its own DDR5 RAM price increase of 50%.
"We increased our pricing on the DDR5 memory configurable in Framework Laptop DIY Edition orders by 50% to begin to respond to the substantially higher costs we are facing from suppliers and distributors," Framework states. "The new pricing remains below what is available in the open market."
This comes as no surprise, considering other major laptop makers like Dell and Lenovo are also looking to raise prices. However, Framework started the post with a screenshot of its RAM configuration prices when buying one of its laptops, like the Framework 13 or Framework 16, stating that an upgrade from 16GB to 32GB is $80.
"We won’t use this as an excuse to gouge customers like Dell apparently has and that Apple does as their norm," Framework commented.
Some great laptop deals to beat the RAMageddon blues
With RAM prices continuing to rise, now is the time to take advantage of laptop deals. Below are three laptop deals we recommend you consider, as these prices might not last much longer.
- Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4/256GB): was $999 now $799 at Amazon
- Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (RTX 5070 Ti): was $1,899 now $1,499 at Best Buy
- Asus Zenbook A14: was $749 now $675 at Amazon
What if the AI bubble bursts?
Many companies and people in general speak about a future run by AI as an inevitability, but what if AI might be a bubble? With all the vendor financing agreements and promises of making money in exchange for burning a whole lot of cash. OpenAI has made $1.5 trillion in chip commitments, while Reuters reports the company has made $12 billion in annual revenue this year.
That’s a big tab, and very bubble-ish in our estimation. So what would happen if all of this money is spent but companies and investors get a reality check that AI won't deliver the future some have predicted? What happens if the return on investment in this AI rollout doesn’t materialize?
Well, two things happen. First, tech companies will slam the brakes on new data center construction and AI scaling. The demand for DRAM and NAND chips will dry up overnight. And second, that will leave warehouses absolutely packed with stock that companies are desperate to sell. At that point, the prices come crashing down to get rid of them all. It will be a systemic shock to the whole industry, and a sharp, severe, rapid end to the RAM pricing crisis. But that's just one possible scenario.
Micron kills Crucial consumer memory in favor of AI data centers
Recently, the first real casualty of RAMageddon was revealed when Micron announced that it will stop selling its Crucial-branded memory and storage in 2026 and “exit the Crucial consumer business in order to improve supply and support for [its] larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments.”
Simply put: Micron is abandoning the consumer market (PC builders, PC gamers) in favor of AI data centers that have been gobbling up memory and storage at a staggering rate. That only leaves Samsung and SK Hynix as the main two DRAM manufacturers.
Micron’s Crucial brand might be the first casualty in this memory boom but we doubt it will be the only company to pull out of selling consumer-grade RAM and SSDs in favor of AI.
MacBook and iPhone prices could rise in 2026, as Apple’s RAM supply advantage fades
In the face of the RAM price crisis, one company has been notably absent from this conversation of price increases: Apple. However, now the Cupertino crew’s in the spotlight, as a new rumor claims Apple’s long-term agreement for DRAM chips is coming to an end starting in January 2026.
This all started from a post by @Jukan05 on X, who indicated that people are potentially overestimating just how secure Apple’s supply chain management is. This points to their own supply chain checks that Samsung and SK Hynix will be planning to “raise memory prices for Apple starting next January.”
After seeing the likes of Dell and Framework raise prices, as well as a report saying companies may have to downgrade products to keep the cost reasonable, what could Apple do in this situation?
According to Jukan, the company will raise prices “within the first half of next year,” and we believe they’re half right. We think the price increase could hit new announcements, but devices currently on sale should be fine. At least, for the immediate future.
PCs, laptops and phones may jump in price as early as December thanks to a '500%' RAM/SSD surge
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CyberPowerPC has confirmed that "global memory (RAM) prices have surged by 500% and SSD prices have risen by 100%."
In terms of what this will do to the prices of CyberPowerPC products, the company does go into a little more detail in a response to one X user. "You can expect a system with 1TB SSD + 16GB Memory to increase by $80 and a 2TB SSD + 32GB Memory will increase by $160 for the total system cost," the company commented.
This is an issue that hits all manufacturers, though, and Maingear CEO Wallace Santos has spoken with WCCFTech about the problem.
“We've already seen DRAM prices skyrocket due to the shortages and are holding off those price changes for our customers as long as we can," Santos commented. "For consumers who are interested in getting a new PC or upgrading their current system's GPU, SSD or RAM, they should consider shopping now and looking for offerings that have not seen price increases yet. MAINGEAR is offering pre-built units for Black Friday right now that were sheltered from these price increases.”
"I anticipate that the prices will continue to rise and then we will eventually have to increase our lead times as stock and allocation become constrained, but we are in constant communication with our vendors and will delay these increases for as long as we possibly can.”
Now's the time to load up on RAM (if you can)
I've been reviewing laptops for years, and I think right now we're about to enter one of the worst years to buy a new laptop in a long time.
That's because Dell, Lenovo and other manufacturers are already signaling plans to raise prices in 2026 in order to compensate for the rising cost of DRAM. So if you're planning to buy a laptop in the year ahead, it wouldn't be the worst idea to buy it now before prices climb higher.
With that in mind I wanted to quickly highlight some good deals I just spotted on MSI's Prestige 13+ AI laptops, which are ultra-light Windows 11 ultraportables with 3K OLED displays that are great for getting work done thanks to their 32MB of RAM (great for multi-tasking) and all-day battery life. I don't know how long these deals will last, so you might want to snag one quick if you're interested!
This might be the cheapest MacBooks are for awhile
As I mentioned earlier, we're hearing very believable reports that Apple may need to increase MacBook prices in 2026 in order to compensate for more expensive DRAM. And if that proves true, the incredibly affordable MacBook Air M4 may lose its edge as one of the best laptops you can buy for (roughly) $1,000.
So if you or someone you love is expecting to need a new MacBook in the next few years, now might be a very wise time to snap one up while holiday deals are still running. Case in point: Amazon currently still has both the 13" and 15" MacBook Air M4 for $200 off, which is a sweet savings to get on these laptops offering 16GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage and all-day battery life courtesy of Apple's speedy M4 chip.
Brace yourself for more laptops with 8GB (or less) of RAM
These days it can feel like 8GB of RAM is the absolute bare minimum you should expect in a laptop, and really you want at least 16GB to effectively run Windows 11 and multi-task without wanting to pull your hair out.
Unfortunately, the ongoing RAM supply crisis is likely going to make laptops with 16GB of RAM or more a bit more expensive and scarce in 2026. That's according to a recent report from the folks at industry intelligence firm TrendForce, who project that we will see more and more laptops with 8GB of RAM hitting the market next year as laptop makers try to stretch their RAM supplies and keep affordable notebooks on store shelves.
So if you're thinking of buying a new laptop in the next year or three and don't want to compromise on memory, it's probably wise to buy now!
Now's a great time to get into game streaming
With RAM prices set to keep climbing for the foreseeable future, now's a particularly bad time to try and save money when buying a gaming laptop or building your own gaming PC. It's cheaper to buy a pre-built PC than build one yourself, which is always a bad sign, and I expect high-end gaming laptops with lots of RAM to get more expensive in the year ahead.
But I've been thinking about this all day and I think there's a silver lining here for PC game fans feeling down in the dumps: game streaming is better than it's ever been, and it lets you play the latest and greatest games on any old PC with a good Internet connection.
So if you're despondent about the state of PC gaming, consider checking out some of the best cloud gaming services available right now. We recently ran a really great overview of your options on our TikTok, check it out!
RAM prices continue to climb (with one small reduction)
Kicking off with a price check on RAM, and unfortunately, costs continue to climb. You'll find DDR5 RAM sticks like this 32GB G.SKILL Flare X5 reaching $379 at Amazon right now, and using price tracker CamelCamelCamel shows a sharp rise from its usual sub-$150 price point. The price of RAM has effectively doubled in this example.
That said, there's still some hope. The 32GB T-Force Delta has had a small reduction recently, dropping from a whopping $653 down to $469. Of course, this is still pricey, considering it was around $100 just a month ago, but at the very least, it's good to see a drop rather than another sharp rise.
We'll be keeping an eye on prices as they rise and (hopefully) reduce!
RAM price crisis may have delayed the Steam Machine
It appears RAMageddon is pumping the brakes on the release of the Steam Machine, and yes, even the near-mythical Half-Life 3! Insider Gaming's Mike Straw states that Valve is rumored to still be working on the price of its upcoming gaming PC, and it's thanks to the rising cost of RAM. Apparently, it may now be delayed past its early 2026 release date, and with Half-Life 3 rumored to be a launch game for the Steam Machine, that means one of the biggest releases in PC gaming could also be pushed back.
Of course, this may not be the case, as Valve has yet to officially announce the price of its Steam Machine or anything to do with Half-Life 3. There's still time before it's set to launch in spring 2026, but here's hoping the price hikes on RAM won't bump up the price for the Steam Machine.
Samsung's DDR5 RAM prices reportedly hit 100% hike
Another manufacturer has been hit by the RAM crisis, and this time, its the RAM manufacturer itself: Samsung. According to analyst Jukan on X, Samsung has now raised the contract price of its DDR5 RAM by more than 100%, increasing the cost to $19.50 per unit. Earlier this year, the price was around $7.
Apparently, Samsung has told its customers (OEMs) that there is simply "no stock" available, hence the rise in price. Not only does this mean that manufacturers will have to pay more for the RAM they need, but this will likely cause a knock-on effect to consumers, meaning higher prices for phones, laptops and more in 2026.
Nintendo Switch 2 is getting more expensive to make
That's right, even the Nintendo Switch 2 can't escape RAMageddon. Nintendo has seen a 4.7% dip in stock price, according to Bloomberg, and much of this has to do with the rise in RAM costs. Since the Switch 2 uses 12GB of DDR5X RAM, the console gets pricier to make, and the price has apparently risen by 41%.
Moreover, the NAND flash memory of the Switch 2 has also risen by 8%. Will this increase the price of Nintendo's latest console? Hopefully not, seeing as the gaming giant makes a lot of its profits from its suite of games. But it's clear the RAM crisis is affecting our favorite consoles, too.
Here's who's best positioned for the RAM price surge
New data from Counterpoint Research has shown that the smartphone market will take a hit due to the RAM price surge, suggesting that "global smartphone shipments in 2026 are expected to shrink 2.1% due to rising memory costs." However, some companies will have an easier time managing the RAM storm.
According to the report, Apple and Samsung are "best positioned to weather the next few quarters" when it comes to smartphones, while other OEMs such as Honor, Oppo and Vivo will have a harder time due to lower profit margins. Apparently, the price of smartphones is set to increase by 6.9% worldwide, which won't be ideal for more entry-level smartphones.
As for Apple, the Cupertino tech giant is expected to absorb the cranked-up costs of RAM initially, meaning prices for its suite of tech won't be changed at first. Hopefully, it will be a while before we see that bump in pricing.
'Price will continue to go up,' Kingston rep warns
Kingston, the American tech manufacturer behind flash memory devices, has stated that NAND memory prices have increased by 246% since the start of the year. Talking on The Full Nerd Network podcast (via Tom's Hardware), Kingston's SSD Business Manager Cameron Crandall stated that "prices will continue to go up" and "it's getting worse right now."
Crandall's advice? Don't wait around for a product you need; buy it now. "I think the best thing to do if you’re looking at upgrading your system is to do it now and not wait because prices are going to continue to go up.”
Crandall continues: “My advice today would be to not hold off on that purchase because it will be more expensive 30 days from now, and more likely it will be more expensive 30 days after that.”
The laptop to get before prices soar
Going off what Kingston states, prices of devices (including laptops) are set to hit new highs, so if you're looking for an upgrade or need a laptop to kick off the year, now really is the time to grab one before the RAM price surge affects the cost the best products.
Our top choice? The MacBook Air M4. For it's discounted $799 price (I haven't seen it at its $899 cost for ages now), it's a true work machine that offers value at its finest. And yes, it offers up 16GB of RAM at its lowest price, and seeing as that 16GB is set to be a premium next year (going down to 8GB), it's hard to ignore.
- Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4/16GB/256GB): was $899 now $799 @ Amazon
Crucial is back? Not quite
I was not kidding.Micron has set up a booth at Delhi Comic Con, and they're showcasing their RAMs and SSDs. The funny part? Their consumer business is closing down next year. https://t.co/ZKopKHLOfZ pic.twitter.com/WoTWnuEPMWDecember 7, 2025
Earlier this month, one of the biggest RAM manufacturers, Micron, announced that it would stop selling its Crucial-branded memory and storage in 2026. That was all to "improve supply and support for [its] larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments.” So, AI data centers.
It's strange, then, to find Crucial show up as a stall at the Delhi Comic Con days after Micron killed the brand (via Tom's Hardware). The booth was showcasing Crucial's RAM and SSD products, as shown by images from user Madhav Banka on X, so that may have been one of the last times Crucial was selling its products.
Since Micron suddenly dropped Crucial only days before the Delhi Comic Con event, there's reason to believe this was planned months or even weeks in advance, and the booth went ahead anyway. Surely, Crucial will still have stock of its products to sell after its sudden closure, but don't expect to see Crucial show up at any more events in the future.
When will RAM prices improve?
According to Sapphire PR manager Edward Crisler (via The Hardware Unboxed podcast), prices for RAM will start to drop again in as little as six months. Although Crisler does state that the DRAM situation is in a terrible state, as it may affect customers from buying any part of a PC, he believes that it will only be six to eight months before RAM pricing swings back to understandable pricing.
That said, many analysts have predicted that we could see the effects of the RAM surge all the way until 2028, considering that many of the biggest RAM manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix are struggling to meet demands (with the former reportedly stating there's "no stock" and delivering a 100% price bump).
We're only at the start of the RAM surge, so expect prices to only go up from here. But here's hoping it won't last too long, and prices head back to normal.
Samsung denies it's phasing out consumer SSDs
During the weekend, rumors began circulating that Samsung would phase out of the consumer SSD market. Naturally, this caused concern given the ubiquity of Samsung's SSDs for PC and consoles alike. However, in an exclusive statement to Wccftech, a Samsung spokesperson has denied these rumors.
"The rumor regarding the phasing out of Samsung SATA or other SSDs is false," said the Samsung spokesperson.
While that's comforting to hear, it's hard to predict what companies will do as RAMageddon continues. However, for the near future, you will still be able to purchase Samsung's SSDs.
Samsung reportedly raises DDR5 RAM prices by 100% with 'no stock' left
Even if Samsung isn't phasing out its consumer SSDs, the company is still being affected by RAMageddon. According to analyst Jukan on X, Samsung has now raised the contract price of its DDR5 RAM by more than 100%, increasing the cost to $19.50 per unit. Earlier this year, the price was around $7, making this a massive spike.
The contract price refers to the bulk pricing agreements between DRAM manufacturers (like Samsung) and large buyers, such as Dell, HP and more. The analyst also mentions that the Korean tech giant has bumped up the cost of last-gen DDR4 RAM to $18, meaning even older RAM sticks will be priced similarly to DDR5.
As per Taiwanese reports, Samsung has told its customers (OEMs) that there is simply "no stock" available, hence the rise in price. Not only does this mean that manufacturers will have to pay more for the RAM they need, but this will likely cause a knock-on effect to consumers, meaning higher prices for phones, laptops and more in 2026.
Along with SK Hynix and Micron, Samsung is among the biggest manufacturers of DRAM. And now, with Micron moving to AI data centers over RAM, companies have no choice but to put up with the rising price of RAM for their upcoming devices. Unfortunately, this means consumers will inevitably see a rise in prices.
PCs, laptops and phones may jump in price thanks to a '500%' RAM/SSD surge
CyberPowerPC has confirmed that "global memory (RAM) prices have surged by 500% and SSD prices have risen by 100%."
In terms of what this will do to the prices of CyberPowerPC products, the company does go into a little more detail in a response to one X user. "You can expect a system with 1TB SSD + 16GB Memory to increase by $80 and a 2TB SSD + 32GB Memory will increase by $160 for the total system cost," the company commented.
RAM and storage are must-haves for just about anything. As a result, everything from phones to laptops, and desktop PCs and their key components like GPUs are expected to see big price climbs.
This could also have big consequences for gamers in particular. While reports have suggested the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles are in development, this chip demand could see price hikes for existing systems — something Microsoft has had to deal with twice in 2025 already.
Get a MacBook Air to beat the RAMageddon blues
We've suggested buying the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 right now since it's possible that MacBook prices will rise due to RAMageddon. We're doing so again for those who might have missed our earlier posts. If you want the most affordable new MacBook, the Air is it!
- Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4): was $999 now $799 at Amazon
Xbox could face another price hike
Xbox consoles could face another price hike, according to YouTube and leaker Moore's Law is Dead (via TGP). According to MLiD, this is because Microsoft didn't plan.
“If you still want an Xbox for some reason at their current pricing, those prices could go up soon, or supply could just entirely dry up because multiple sources of mine have apparently been warned by sales reps at Microsoft that this is going to affect the Xbox Series consoles very, very soon. Sooner rather than later," said Tom of MLiD.
Given how all Xbox consoles now cost more than they did at launch five years ago, it will make it even harder to justify buying Microsoft's console.
Cloud gaming gift cards make great stocking stuffers right now!
With RAM prices set to keep climbing for the foreseeable future, now's a particularly bad time to buy a new gaming PC. But as we get down to the wire on holiday shopping, I wanted to remind you that game streaming is better than it's ever been, and it lets you (or the PC game fan on your list) play the latest and greatest games on any old PC with a good Internet connection.
So if you're despondent about the state of PC gaming, consider checking out some of the best cloud gaming services available right now and gifting a few months' worth of gaming to someone you love!
Price check!
Another day, another round of RAM price hikes on Amazon. Compared to yesterday, the RAM sticks I've been tracking haven't budged, so the 32GB G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 is still slightly down to its $379 cost (from $87 at its lowest), while the 32GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 also dropped to its now $469 price point (from $94 at its lowest a few months ago). While they're reduced, that's after skyrocketing in price over the past few weeks.
Reports suggest that RAMageddon won't end anytime soon, and as stock dwindles, expect these sticks to continue to climb (or at least stay at the price they're at). Checking out DDR4 RAM, you'll find the same price hikes are happening. This 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 is now at $170, despite being just $47 back in June. At least it's not at its highest ($207) yet, which was back in 2021.
We'll continue to keep tabs on the latest updates on all things RAM crisis, so keep it right here.
RAM crisis expected to last until 2028
SK Hynix internal analysis▪ SupplyExcluding HBM and SOCAMM, supply bit growth for commodity DRAM is projected to be constrained through 2028.▪ Production & InventoryWhile supplier inventories are being depleted to minimum levels, production Capacity is expected to see… pic.twitter.com/ITa21oKSrRDecember 10, 2025
SK Hynix, one of the biggest manufacturers of RAM, reportedly claims that the RAM shortage will last all the way until 2028. This comes from internal analysis shared by BullsLab Jay on X, with the post stating, "excluding HBM and SOCAMM, supply bit growth for commodity DRAM is projected to be constrained through 2028."
It's also noted that, despite low inventory being "depleted to minimum levels," production will still see limited growth. This indicates that RAM will continue to be in limited supply, and prices won't ease in the meantime.
Of course, there are many predictions on how long the RAM crisis will last, as a Sapphire rep previously mentioned that it may only last as little as six months. For now, though, expect raised prices to stick for the foreseeable future.
Scan Computers CEO: 'It's just another market cycle'
Speaking with Tom's Guide, CEO of Scan Computers (Scan UK) Elan Raja speaks of the current RAM crisis and takes an outside look at the market, speaking of past events that saw RAM prices surge, including the RAM Drought in 1988 and in 2016 to 2018 when smartphone growth and server demand saw DRAM prices nearly triple.
"It's just chaotic. There are tariffs in the U.S. and so on, and there are certain things which are just completely outside of anyone's control, and that is supply and demand," Raja states. "The way how I view it is it's over a long period of time, it's just another market cycle. You call it cyclical and it typically it's not maybe over a period of one year, but if you were to stretch it out over a long period of time, it's a blip."
Raja continues: "PC gaming's never been as strong, and when you consider that, people are now spending £1,000+ on a graphics card because of the difference in value of what you get from a GPU as a percentage and as relative to that. DRAM will just go with its market cycle. It's uncomfortable for the market, but one thing is for sure, it's worldwide. The demand's always going to be there in my opinion."
Essentially, if the market continues, we'll get high demand and high prices, which will lead to new fabs and then to oversupply, then an eventual collapse in prices again. That is, if this is part of the cycle we've come to know over the years.
Worried about RAM for gaming? Get it for less now
RAM price hikes are coming for virtually all the tech we use, and if you're a gamer (or power user), the more you have, the better. Costs are set to soar, and previous reports even indicate that 8GB of RAM on laptops may become the entry point, and 16GB will be a premium. That's why it's a good idea to consider grabbing deals on gaming laptops right now, and one that stands out is this Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI that's now $450 off at Best Buy.
It's one of the most affordable RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptops around, thanks to that discount, even if it's still pricey. However, with its 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, not to mention a gorgeous 16-inch QHD (2560 x 1600) OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, this laptop will last you for years to come (and hopefully past the RAM crisis).
- Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: was $1,899 now $1,449 @ Best Buy
Will iPhone and MacBook prices rise?
What I find hard to understand is that the sell-side and the market are significantly overestimating Apple's supply chain management capabilities.In my view, Apple is also likely to take a significant hit from this memory price surge. The LTAs (Long-Term Agreements) that Apple…December 13, 2025
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple is one of the few companies best positioned to overcome the price hikes set by the RAM crisis. However, there's still a chance MacBook and iPhone prices could rise in 2026, especially rumored models like the M5 MacBook Air and iPhone 18 lineup.
As analyst Jukan on X suggests, the long-term agreements the Cupertino tech giant has in place are "expiring," and the likes of Samsung and SK Hynix are "planning to raise memory prices for Apple starting next January." It's been reported that Samsung has raised the contract price of its RAM by 100%, so this now seems more likely.
While current iPhone, iPad and MacBook models should be just fine, it appears that upcoming products may see a price increase. Or worse, see lower RAM in entry-level configurations, although I doubt this will be the case. All that said, since Apple develops in-house chips, it could absorb the rising DRAM costs and keep price hikes at bay for a while (as Counterpoint hints at). Either way, RAMageddon could hit Apple eventually, so prepare for pricier products.
Another 32GB laptop worth grabbing (for less!)
If you're not a fan of MacBooks and prefer even more RAM in a Windows laptop, then I highly recommend the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo. It's one of the lightest laptops around, and it packs plenty of power. And yes, this deal comes with a whopping 32GB of RAM, making it all the more worth it. It sports a 13.3-inch OLED display, an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, which is a welcome touch.
- MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo: was $1,399 now $1,259 @ Amazon
Will 4GB of RAM in smartphones return?
With the latest TrendForce report, the global market intelligence sit suggests that we could see entry-level smartphone return to 4GB of RAM — despite see up to 8GB of RAM generally being the minimum. That's a huge setback, and as Counterpoint Research analysis indicates, this could be coming to many smartphone brands.
Will many be reducing specs to keep up with the ongoing rise of costs? We'd like to think not, but as "memory prices are projected to rise sharply again in the first quarter of 2026," TrendForce states, this may be the case. So, it may be a while before we see proper upgrades on phones and laptops when it comes to RAM, with the latter's mid-range specs now apparently shifting to just offering 8Gb instead of the usual 16GB.
Buy now or wait for prices to return to normal?
We've heard plenty about how the memory shortage will raise the price of phones, laptops, consoles and more, and it's now already cheaper to buy a pre-built gaming PC than building one yourself.
That said, many devices are still at their usual prices (if not less, thanks to holiday sales), so it makes it a good time to grab a phone or laptop you've had your eye on before costs shift, stock runs out or next-gen products jump in price.
Is it a good time to buy now or is it worth waiting for the RAM crisis to blow over? Let us know your thoughts!
A quick explainer on the RAM crisis
If you're wondering why RAM prices are skyrocketing, here's an easy way to think about it (and if you like apples, you'll enjoy this explanation more):
Think of the production of RAM like an apple orchard. The critical chips at the center of all this are DRAM (the apples), and there are only three key orchards to buy apples from: Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology control around 95% of the global DRAM production collectively.
Things are ticking along well — the weather has been perfect for growing plenty of apples for stable production with high yields, and the demand remained at a solid level from consumers to make a whole lot of apple pie. That means these companies can collectively decide a reasonable price for the apples and keep everyone happy.
Now imagine that a global apple pie maker swoops in and buys all the apples. This is the AI data center boom, which is largely driven by the massive increase in demand from the likes of Oracle and AWS. To run AI as speedily as you see in the likes of ChatGPT-5 and Google Gemini 3, you need super-fast memory, which comes from RAM and SSDs (by the way, SSD chips will also be impacted, but that’s a different story).
These orchards are unable to keep up with the demand, which creates a massive seasonal drought and forces customers desperate for RAM to wave whatever money they have and beg for the few remaining apples.
Nvidia reportedly cutting GPU production by 40% in 2026
It appears Nvidia is getting prepared for the impact of the RAM crisis, as it's now been reported that Team Green will be ramping down production of its discrete GPUs by 40% (via PC Gamer). This comes from the Chinese Board Channels forum, stating that RTX 50-series graphics cards will be reduced by 30%-40% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
However, this may not be due to a lack of supply. With RAMageddon resulting in a lack of DRAM for PCs, laptops and more, Nvidia may be bracing for manufacturers to deliver fewer products with RTX 50-series GPUs fitted inside. There's already plenty of stock of Team Green's GPUs going around, even if RTX 5090 and some RTX 5080 graphics cards are near-impossible to come by at MSRP.
Perhaps there's already enough in production that meets demand, but of course, as the RAM crisis continues, seeing fewer RTX GPUs on shelves isn't ideal. And the more VRAM a GPU has, the higher the price, which isn't going to be a good look when rumored RTX 50 Super graphics cards with higher video memory are expected to arrive in 2026.
RAMageddon got you down? Get a MacBook Air for cheap!
MacBooks have been immune to increased RAM prices, but that might not last long. To that end, we suggest the 13-inch MacBook Air M4, which is currently on sale for $200 off.
- Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4): was $999 now $799 at Amazon
Kingston says it has seen a 246% increase in NAND wafer prices
Kingston expects SSD prices to rise in 2026 and confirms that the company has seen a 246% increase in NAND wafer prices.
In a recent appearance on The Full Nerd Network podcast(per PC Gamer), Kingston's Datacentre SSD Business Manager Cameron Crandall said he has seen a "246% increase in NAND pricing as compared to Q1 of 2025." Crandall has worked at Kingston for 29 years, and he has never seen NAND wafer prices spike so rapidly in such a short time.
NAND flash chips account for roughly 90% of an SSD's cost, which means the price of storage will rise in the coming weeks and potentially beyond if the current trend continues. Crandall is telling folks to buy storage now because prices will continue going up. We agree with that advice!
RAMageddon could delay the Steam Machine... and Half-Life 3
Valve's Steam Machine is gearing up to be a hugely anticipated launch in early 2026, but thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, we may have to wait longer to get our hands on it. And now, it could also mean one of the biggest releases in PC gaming could be pushed back: Half-Life 3.
As noted by Insider Gaming's Mike Straw in its podcast, Valve is still working out the price of its Steam Machine in response to the price hikes set by RAMageddon. Unfortunately, this may delay the launch of the small gaming PC past its expected spring 2026 release, and this is backed up by the long-awaited Half-Life 3 missing key reveal dates.
"Every single date that they were told has passed," said Straw in the Insider Gaming podcast. "Everybody I've talked to is still adamant this is a game that will be a launch title with the Steam Machine. There is a concern, however, that they haven't decided on price... and the reason is because of PC RAM prices and storage prices right now."
Pre-built PCs are become cheaper than ones you build yourself
During normal times, a PC you've built yourself would be easier on your wallet than a pre-built computer like an Alienware. Unfortunately, we no longer live in normal times, as RAMageddon is now making it cheaper to buy a pre-built rig!
This is because most retailers and computing brands will have these PCs ready-made and good to go from their warehouses — using the stockpile of RAM and SSDs they already have on their books.
A lot of companies saw this RAM crisis starting to happen and managed to get their orders in early enough to keep themselves sort of protected from what’s happening now, which is why you see the price differential. If you were to buy parts now, you’re buying at the current market price.
Going the DIY route used to be the lower-cost way, because the added cost of the company building it is removed (you build it yourself after all). But the massively rising cost of RAM has brought it to the point where the time to build it yourself is actually more expensive than just getting someone else to do it for you.
With RAM prices spiking, now's the time to check out cloud gaming
Whether you buy or a build a new gaming PC in 2026, chances are it's going to be more expensive than usual because of the spiking prices on DRAM and storage.
I've been writing about laptops and desktops for years and unfortunately, my experience tells me this won't be over soon. Maybe I'm misguessing, but after watching how long it took GPU prices to settle down during first the heyday of crypto mining and then the COVID-19 global quarantine, I expect we won't see RAM prices return to "normal" for at least a year or so.
So while that makes now a bad time to build or upgrade a gaming PC, it's a great time to experiment with streaming games to older hardware. The best cloud gaming services (like GeForce Now) can run modern games on top-tier hardware for you for a reasonable fee, and I bet now's a great time to snap up some gift memberships for yourself or someone on your shopping list!
Price check!
Uh oh. It was bound to happen, but the price of RAM continues to shoot up. Over the past few days, the 32GB G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 has increased to $379. But today, it's reached $399 at Amazon. That's the highest it's ever been, and let it be known that earlier this year, you could swipe the RAM sticks for just under $100.
At least the other RAM I'm tracking hasn't budged, as the 32GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 is still at its somewhat reduced $469 price. "Somehwat" meaning it was $94, shot up to $650, and is now reduced. Interestingly, the 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 RAM I'm keeping tabs on is now out of stock! And that topped at $170 at Amazon (from $47 at its lowest).
It's clear RAM prices are rising by the day, and as we've heard, it's only getting more expensive (or running out). We'll see how this eventually impacts the rest of the industry when it comes to phones, laptops and more soon enough.
Catch up on the latest
Over the past day, there were plenty of shifts on the market all related to the RAM crisis. In case you missed it, here's a rundown of the biggest updates.
- Flash memory pricing is skyrocketing: Kingston expects SSD prices to rise in 2026 and confirms that the company has seen a 246% increase in NAND wafer prices.
- Nvidia is reducing GPU production by 40% in 2026, reports say: It seems Team Green is preparing for VRAM limitations and less demand for its GPUs, as RTX 50-series graphics cards will reportedly be reduced by 30%-40% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
- Scan Computers CEO states, "it's just another market cycle." Speaking with Tom's Guide, CEO of Scan Computers (Scan UK) Elan Raja, says, "the way I view it is it's over a long period of time, it's just another market cycle."
- RAM crisis expected to last until 2028: With low inventory and limited growth in production, SK Hynix, one of the biggest manufacturers of RAM, reportedly claims that the RAM shortage will last all the way until 2028.
What happens if the AI bubble bursts?
What would happen if all of this money is spent on RAM for AI, but companies and investors get a reality check that AI won't deliver the future some have predicted? What happens if the return on investment in this AI rollout doesn’t materialize?
Well, two things happen. First, tech companies will slam the brakes on new data center construction and AI scaling. The demand for DRAM and NAND chips will dry up overnight. And second, that will leave warehouses absolutely packed with stock that companies are desperate to sell.
At that point, the prices come crashing down to get rid of them all. It will be a systemic shock to the whole industry, and a sharp, severe, rapid end to the RAM pricing crisis. But that's just one possible scenario.
A Meta Quest price increase may be coming
According to a leaked memo, Meta is planning to raise prices on its VR devices, like the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S. Apparently, this is due to extending the sustainability of its VR headsets, but with RAM prices going up and affecting all types of tech (the Quest 3 and 3S sport 8GB of RAM), this could be a contributing factor, too.
"Our devices will be more premium in price going forward, but we'll have a healthier business to anchor on and free ourselves from feeling existential about any singular device's success," the memo reads.
The memo reportedly comes from new Metaverse execs Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns, who insist the company needs to “make a shift” to sustain its VR headsets. Alongside price increases, a new focus will be on accounting for tariffs and extending the replacement cycle of the devices.
PC gamers, make the most of this gaming laptop deal
RAM prices are getting scarily high, but at least not on laptops and the like (just yet). In the meantime, we've got holiday sales to enjoy, and for PC gamers, you'll want to check out this HP Omen 16 sporting the latest specs (and 16GB of DDR5 RAM) with a $505 discount at Best Buy. That takes the price of this strong laptop down to $974, and anything under $1,000 for a laptop sporting an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, RTX 5060 GPU and 1TB SSD is well worth jumping on. Even better, its 16-inch 2K 144Hz display offers plenty of wiggle room for gameplay.
- HP Omen 16 (RTX 5060): was $1,479 now $974 @ Best Buy
70% would prefer to upgrade tech after prices return to normal
In a recent poll asking if you would buy now to escape the RAM price hikes on tech, it turns out 70% of you would prefer to wait to upgrade your tech after prices return to normal, rather than buying new devices right now.
With prices already on the rise, and next year bringing a selection of next-gen phones, laptops and more, it's more than reasonable to save cash now and wait it out for costs to drop again (hopefully it won't last until 2028). Of course, there's still 30% that would buy now, and if you're planning to do so, it's best to find the best holiday sales and get grabbing.
You can still cast your vote if you haven't yet. Let us know what you think!
RAM company G.Skill comments on RAM crisis
G.Skill, the Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturing company, has now released a statement on the ongoing memory shortage, explaining why its DRAM memory prices increased so much recently, as of Q4 2025.
"DRAM prices are experiencing significant industry-wide volatility, due to severe global supply constraints and shortages, driven by unprecedented high demand from the AI industry," G.Skill says.
"As a result, G.Skill procurement and sourcing costs have substantially increased. G.Skill pricing reflect industry-wide component cost increases from IC suppliers and is subject to change without notice based on market conditions. Purchasers should be mindful of the pricing before purchasing. Thank you."
Essentially, the company can't help but raise prices, and warns customers that costs aren't going to be ideal.
Is this where all the memory is going?
So, Nvidia just announced its RTX Pro 5000 72GB Blackwell GPU for desktops is now more widely available, primed for AI developers, data scientists and creative professionals. That's right, 72GB of GDDR7 VRAM, which is 50% more than the usual 48GB model. Sure, it will power through pro-level demands for agentic AI and the like with its 2,142 TOPS of AI performance, but is this where all the RAM is going?
Nvidia is reportedly reducing GPU production by 40% in 2026, and it may be to power up its latest Pro-level Blackwell GPUs. Either way, this is more for developers, engineers and designers at a professional level rather than consumers, but it's interesting how Nvidia is looking to use memory during the RAM crisis.
Fan of VR? With Meta reportedly increasing prices, jump on this deal
Since Meta is reportedly raising the prices of its Quest VR headsets next year, whether it's to do with the RAM shortage or not, it's probably a good time to finally grab yourself one of the finest standalone VR headsets around. Right now, that includes the Meta Quest 3S down to its lowest price ever at $249. Better yet, both the 128GB and 256GB models come with some of the best VR games around completely for free, such as The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and Batman: Arkham Shadow. If you're planning to grab one anyway, it's well worth investing now before prices shoot up.
- Meta Quest 3S + The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (128GB): was $299 now $249 @ Best Buy
- Meta Quest 3S + Batman: Arkham Shadow (256GB): was $399 now $349 @ Best Buy
Take advantage of this MacBook Air deal
MacBooks haven't been affected by the RAM crisis, but that doesn't mean they always will be. To that end, we recommend buying the 13-inch MacBook Air M4, which is currently on sale for $250 off. We don't know when (or if) MacBook prices will go up due to RAMageddon, but it's best not to wait till the last minute
- 13" MacBook Air M4: was $999 now $749 @ Amazon
A great Windows laptop to beat the RAMageddon blues
If you're looking for a great Windows laptop and don't need the latest and greatest, we suggest the still great Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge.
This laptop impresses thanks to its vibrant 16-inch OLED display, lightweight design, strong Snapdragon X Elite performance, and roomy keyboard. Though it has lesser battery life than other Copilot+ PCs, its positives offset its weaknesses. This is a fine laptop to get if you don't want to pay an exorbitant amount for RAM.
- Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: $799 now $549 @ Best Buy
Could Valve delay the Steam Machine?
Valve's Steam Machine is gearing up to be a hugely anticipated launch in early 2026, but thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, we may have to wait longer to get our hands on it. And now, it could also mean one of the biggest releases in PC gaming could be pushed back: Half-Life 3.
As noted by Insider Gaming's Mike Straw in its podcast, Valve is still working out the price of its Steam Machine in response to the price hikes set by RAMageddon. Unfortunately, this may delay the launch of the small gaming PC past its expected spring 2026 release, and this is backed up by the long-awaited Half-Life 3 missing key reveal dates.
"Every single date that they were told has passed," said Straw in the Insider Gaming podcast. "Everybody I've talked to are still adament this is a game that will be a launch title with the Steam Machine. There is a concern, however, that they haven't made a decision on price... and the reason is because of PC RAM memory prices and storage prices right now."
Things could get worse for gaming consoles
According to Circana (via Windows Central), which regularly tracks and reports on industry sales, November 2025 marked the worst November for U.S. hardware sales since 1995. That's not good news, considering November is when console sales tend to pick up. The increasing cost of consoles is no doubt a reason, as the average price of hardware like the Xbox Series X and PS5 rose by 11% year over year.
While the above isn't directly related to RAMageddon, the latter certainly won't help matters as we head into 2026. If the RAM crisis doesn't improve, then we could see a further decline in console sales if said consoles become even more expensive.
Price check!
The prices just keep getting higher. It's clear that the daily increases are in force, showing the RAM crisis is in full swing. Take the 32GB G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 I've been tracking on Amazon, which just yesterday increased to $399. Right now, it's jumped to $419, and it only looks to climb even higher.
As for the 32GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5, that's still set at its $469 price point, but as a reminder, it spiked to $650 after being just under $100 only a few months ago. As for the DDR4 side of things, the 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 RAM is still out of stock, peaking at $170 from its usual sub-$50 cost.
Framework is raising prices again
Framework, the manufacturer behind customizable PCs, has announced another price hike, this time for storage. After Framework announced a 50% cost rise for its RAM from suppliers, the same is now happening to SSDs. For example, the WD_Black storage the company provides is up across the board, with Notebookcheck seeing up to a €35 rise in price.
Currently, the 500GB model on Framework's customization page is at $99. For the same SSD on Amazon, this is now discounted to $82. It's just another sign that RAM isn't the only component that's seeing sky-high pricing, as memory is also on the rise.
Speaking of storage hikes, grab this SanDisk SSD before prices soar
Since it isn't just RAM that's seeing price hikes, those looking for extra storage on their phone, laptop and other devices may want to look at upgrading their space before SSD prices skyrocket. For content creators, you should look at the SanDisk Creator Phone SSD. Not only does it transfer data post-haste thanks to its 1,000MB/s read/write speeds, but it's also a MagSafe-compatible storage expansion, making it a great pick for iPhone users.
It's already gone up in price, but only by $5. So, if you're after a way to upgrade your storage, this one is worth looking at.
- SanDisk Creator Phone SSD (1TB): $149 @ Amazon
- SanDisk Creator Phone SSD (1TB): £116 @ Amazon
RAM is costing more than a PS5
After looking at prices for RAM across Amazon, it hit me that these costs aren't just skyrocketing; they're blowing past the devices that actually use RAM, too. Take the 32GB T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 at Amazon that now costs $469, or the 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal Neo Series DDR5 that's now at $499. These were both under $150 just a few months ago, and now, they're both more than a PS5 Slim.
At the time of writing, the PS5 Slim is now as little as $399 at Best Buy after a discount, and this PS5 bundle with a disc drive is $449. It shows just how dire the RAM market is right now. Why build a PC when you can grab a console for the same price as RAM?
The RAM crisis is impacting game development, too
Even game developers are having a hard time managing the RAM crisis. In an interview with TheGamer, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke talked about how the Baldur's Gate 3 development team is now changing course to optimize it's upcoming Divinity game for devices with limited RAM and VRAM.
"It kind of ruins all of your projections that you had about it because normally, you know the curves, and you can protect the hardware," Vincke said in the interview. "It means that most likely, we already need to do a lot of optimization work in early access that we didn't necessarily want to do at that point in time. So it's challenging, but it's video games."
As Vincke notes, this is to do with "the price of RAM and the price of SSDs," as Larian Studios prepares its likely demanding, high-quality title for PCs with limited RAM and SSD space.
In case you missed it
Here's a round-up of the latest we've heard about the RAM crisis, as there's quite a few updates going around.
- Nvidia announced its RTX Pro 5000 72GB Blackwell GPU: That's a lot of VRAM. Is that where all the RAM is going?
- A Meta Quest price increase may be coming: According to a leaked memo, Meta is planning to raise prices on its VR devices, like the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S.
- RAM company G.Skill comments on RAM crisis: The Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturing company has now released a statement on the ongoing memory shortage, explaining why its DRAM memory prices increased so much recently, as of Q4 2025.
- Framework is raising prices again: The customizable PC manufacturer has announced another price hike, this time for storage.
More people will wait for the RAM crisis to end before buying
I asked, and you answered. In terms of buying tech now or waiting for the RAM crisis to blow over, now 75% of you would prefer to do the latter. Seeing as RAM is already on the rise, that makes sense. Apparently, according to RAM manufacturer SK Hynix, the RAM shortage will last all the way until 2028. It may take a while (hopefully not), but with the way prices are going now, it's well worth using your hard-earned cash wisely.
Get a MacBook Air to beat the RAMageddon blues
For those who do want to buy now before prices rise, there are still plenty of options. We've suggested buying the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 right now since it's possible that MacBook prices will rise due to RAMageddon. We're doing so again for those who might have missed our earlier posts. If you want the most affordable new MacBook, the Air is it!
- Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4): was $999 now $749 at Amazon
