Since October 2025, the price of RAM has more than doubled for both new devices and upgrades. With manufacturers raising prices or offering lower configurations, consumers will be facing significant costs.
Why prices are rising
- AI boom - The explosive growth in AI and data centres requires vast amounts of Ram, diverting supply from consumer electronics. For example Micron one of the biggest sellers of RAM, announced in December 2025 it would stop selling its Crucial brand to consumers to focus on the increasing AI demand
- Supply and demand imbalance - Manufacturers are producing less standard memory, while demand, especially for higher-end types like DDR5 and LPDDR5, is through the roof
- Manufacturing shift - Memory makers are prioritising high-margin AI/enterprise orders, leaving consumer-grade memory (like for tablets and PCs) short.
Impacts
- Higher device cost - Tablets and other smart devices with memory are seeing price increases. Some suggest “consumers will need to decide either to pay a higher price for the performance they need or accept a compromise in a lower performing device”.
- More expensive upgrades and volatile pricing - Upgrading RAM in existing devices or buying new ones with more memory has become much costlier. And with price fluctuating weekly, it is a volatile time for purchasing memory-intensive tech.
- Manufacturer responses - Less memory in base models and higher prices for larger RAM configurations. "Higher prices and limited availability are likely to continue across consumer, business and public-sector markets. How governments, manufacturers and buyers respond to this will shape not only the cost of hardware but also how accessible and resilient digital systems remain".
To this end, we understand our trusted customers may have to buy lesser known tablets like the Acer, OPPO or OnePlus to get by in this time. The modular nature of our locpad range and our tablet cases means we can supply solutions for the majority of tablets in the market place, now and over the coming 18 months whilst the fallout of this issue affects everyone.
Don't hesitate to contact us about bespoke solutions for your business needs. We’re here to talk, advise support and create solutions to keep your business going.
Explore the locpad range.