Raspberry Pi prices leap again as RAM shortages slam PCs
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld reports that Raspberry Pi devices face a second price hike in two months, with increases ranging from $10 for 2GB models to $60 for premium 16GB versions.
- Global RAM shortages driven by AI technology demand are forcing price increases across consumer electronics, affecting companies like Framework and Nvidia alongside Raspberry Pi.
- The Raspberry Pi 5 16GB now costs $205, though older models remain unaffected due to stockpiled memory and the CEO expects these increases to be temporary.
RAM prices are going up. That’s been the news for months and months, and it’s affecting almost every aspect of consumer electronics, from the most powerful graphics cards to the cheapest hobby machines. The beloved Raspberry Pi is getting its second price hike in two months, thanks to RAM shortages driven by “AI” demand.
Exactly two months ago, the Raspberry Pi Foundation had to bump up the prices of various Pi 4 and Pi 5 computers by $5-25. The sorry state of pricing caused the company to release a new, more affordable model starting at $45 USD, but with just one gigabyte of DDR4 memory. That model is also the only one that’s spared from the latest increases: A further $10 price bump for 2GB models, $15 for 4GB, $30 for 8GB, and a whopping $60 for Pi models with16GB of memory.
This includes the keyboard-packing Raspberry Pi 500 and 500+ designs. Fortunately the Pi Zero, Pi 3, and “other older products” are staying the same price, thanks to older devices using older memory that’s been stockpiled. Here’s the current list of relevant Pi models and their USD prices, as of February 2026, compared to their mid-2025 prices:
| Model | Capacity | Mid-2025 price, USD | February 2026 price, USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 | 4GB | $55 | $75 |
| Raspberry Pi 4 | 8GB | $75 | $115 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 1GB | – | $45 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 2GB | $50 | $65 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 4GB | $60 | $85 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 8GB | $80 | $125 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 16GB | $120 | $205 |
Raspberry Pi isn’t the only builder-focused company that’s been forced to raise prices due to the AI RAM crunch. Framework has had to raise the price of RAM modules multiple times. Nvidia appears to be cutting production of at least some consumer-grade graphics cards (though it’s in damage control on exactly how that’ll shake out), prioritizing data center-focused chip and memory production. Prices are shooting through the roof, and partners like Zotac are evidently sweating.
But hey, it’s all worth it, right? We can get auto-generated search results and headlines that are constantly wrong, and generate non-consensual images of strangers on the corpse of Twitter, while boiling the planet and increasing power bills.
Raspberry Pi founder and CEO Eben Upton says that “the current situation is ultimately a temporary one,” and that price increases will be reversed once it’s over. Chin up, I suppose.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
