Tech Price Increase From the 2026 RAM Shortage: What to Buy Now and What to Wait On

Last updated: October 22, 2026. Picks are based on reviews and guides from PCMag (NVMe roundup, editors' note September 15, 2025), TechRadar (2026 SSD and DDR5 guides), PC Gamer (RAM guide, updated January 16, 2026), and Tom's Hardware (reviews and an October 14, 2026 price report), all read October 22, 2026.

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Quick answer

Reviewers say to buy memory-heavy tech now only if you need it, and to skip extra RAM or storage if your current PC works.
Top storage picks in 2026 guides: WD Black SN850X (PCIe 4.0), Samsung 990 Pro (PS5), and WD Black SN8100 (PCIe 5.0).
Top RAM picks for Ryzen and mainstream builds: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo and Corsair Vengeance RGB, with DDR4 as a lower-cost route.

Memory prices have climbed sharply in 2026, and the effect reaches well beyond RAM kits. As of October 22, 2026, outlets such as Tom's Hardware, PCMag, and Ars Technica report higher prices for DDR5 kits, SSDs, laptops, phones, and consoles, all linked to AI data center demand. This guide explains the cause in plain terms, then lists the RAM kits and SSDs that reviewers recommended in 2026 guides. It does not predict future prices, and every price shown is dated.

Tech Price Increase From the 2026 RAM Shortage: What to Buy Now and What to Wait On

1. Why prices rose and how to choose

PCMag's laptop explainer (read October 22, 2026) says AI data centers are taking a large share of memory production. It cites TrendForce projecting that AI-centric memory would use 70% of global memory hardware output this year. Ars Technica reported on October 1, 2026 that Micron's CEO said the supply-demand environment is only getting tighter, and that Micron no longer sells consumer RAM.

Tom's Hardware reported on October 14, 2026 that RAM prices are up more than 500% since last year. It said a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit reached $449.97, up from about $400 in August. Prices change often, so treat that as a snapshot, not a quote.

The squeeze spreads to other parts. PCMag says video memory cost per gigabit more than tripled over six months, SSD makers compete for the same manufacturing capacity, and Dell, HP, and Lenovo had estimated PC price hikes of 15% to 30%. With that background, here are the criteria reviewers stress.

Capacity before speed: PC Gamer calls 32GB the baseline for mid-range gaming PCs, and PCMag (May 24, 2026) says more capacity often helps more than small clock tweaks.
Platform match: PCMag notes that AMD AM5 and Intel Arrow Lake boards use DDR5 only. DDR4 needs older platforms.
Total build cost: PCMag compared a Corsair 32GB DDR4 kit at $262.99 with a DDR5 kit at $439.99 on Newegg in its May 24, 2026 article. It suggested the difference could pay for a stronger graphics card.
Slot and generation for SSDs: PCMag says to check M.2 length, PCIe version, and heatsink fit, and that some laptops solder the SSD in place.
Price per gigabyte: PCMag suggests dividing price by capacity to compare drives fairly.

At a glance

Pick	Best for	Key spec	Reviewed by
WD Black SN850X	Best PCIe 4.0 for most users	PCIe 4.0, rated 7,300 MB/s read, up to 8TB	PCMag, Tom's Hardware
Samsung 990 Pro	PS5 and high-capacity Gen 4	PCIe 4.0, rated up to 7,450 MB/s read	TechRadar, PCMag, Tom's Hardware
WD Black SN8100	Fastest PCIe 5.0 drive	PCIe 5.0, rated 14,900 MB/s read	PCMag, TechRadar
Samsung 9100 Pro	Large PCIe 5.0 capacity	PCIe 5.0, up to 8TB	PCMag, Tom's Hardware, TechRadar
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo	AMD AM5 builds	DDR5-6000 with EXPO	Tom's Hardware, PC Gamer, TechRadar
Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB DDR5	Mainstream stable kit	DDR5-6000 C30 reviewed, needs 1.4V	Tom's Hardware, TechRadar

2. Top picks: SSDs reviewers recommend

WD Black SN850X: Best overall PCIe 4.0

Best for: Desktop and compatible-laptop buyers who want a fast PCIe 4.0 drive and do not have a PCIe 5.0 slot.

What reviewers say: PCMag's NVMe roundup (editors' note September 15, 2025) names it the best overall PCIe 4.0 drive for most users and rates it 4.5 out of 5. It says the drive exceeded its rated speeds and scored well in PCMark and 3DMark. Tom's Hardware's review (published August 25, 2022, updated October 13, 2022) gave it an Editor's Choice but found the SK hynix Platinum P41 slightly ahead and called the price high. The two outlets differ on ranking, and the Tom's review predates the shortage. Commenters under the Tom's review were mixed, with one owner reporting no issues and easy firmware updates and others calling it pricey.

Pros: Strong PCMark and 3DMark results, capacities up to 8TB, optional heatsink.
Cons: No 256-bit hardware encryption (PCMag), and priced above some rivals (Tom's Hardware).

See WD Black SN850X on Amazon →

Samsung 990 Pro: Best for PS5 and high capacity

Best for: PlayStation 5 owners and PC buyers who want a proven PCIe 4.0 drive.

What reviewers say: TechRadar's 2026 SSD guide (read October 22, 2026, no update date shown) names it the best PS5 SSD, reporting a 7,449 MB/s sequential read in testing and a need for the optional heatsink on PS5. PCMag's roundup (September 15, 2025 note) picks the heatsink version as the best PCIe 4.0 drive with a heatsink, but found its gaming scores middling against other top PCIe 4.0 drives. Tom's Hardware (October 21, 2026) said the 4TB model still offers extremely fast performance in a single-sided M.2 2280 form factor, and that price is the main issue because the AI boom has pushed SSD prices to "insane highs."

Pros: Fast PCIe 4.0 speeds, 256-bit encryption support (PCMag), PS5 compatible.
Cons: Needs a heatsink for PS5 use, and gaming scores trailed some rivals (PCMag).

See Samsung 990 Pro on Amazon →

WD Black SN8100: Best overall PCIe 5.0

Best for: Builders with a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot who want the fastest drive.

What reviewers say: PCMag (September 15, 2025 note) names it the best overall PCIe 5.0 drive and gives it 5.0 out of 5, citing fast random speeds and strong PCMark 10 results. It adds that full performance needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. TechRadar's 2026 guide calls it the fastest SSD it has tested and praises power efficiency, but says it is expensive and that value per gigabyte lags more modest drives.

Pros: Top speeds, up to 8TB (PCMag), efficient (TechRadar).
Cons: Premium cost, and it needs a Gen 5 slot to show its speed.

See WD Black SN8100 on Amazon →

3. Top picks: RAM kits reviewers recommend

RAM guidance is harder to pin down in 2026. Several guides were written before the price spike, so I use them for quality and compatibility notes, not for price.

G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo: Best for Ryzen systems

Best for: AMD AM5 builders who want DDR5-6000 with EXPO support.

What reviewers say: Tom's Hardware's review of the Trident Z5 NeoX RGB DDR5-6000 C30 (read October 22, 2026, page undated) calls it the kind of kit to buy for the best Ryzen result, citing EXPO Ultra Low Latency, 1.35V operation, and an exorbitant price. PC Gamer's guide (updated January 16, 2026) tells AM5 owners to choose G.Skill's 6000 MT/s Trident Z5 Neo kits and says 6000 is the sweet spot. TechRadar's 2026 guide names the Trident Z5 Neo its best AMD EXPO kit but notes it tops out at 6000 MT/s and is power hungry. PC Gamer's overall pick is a different DDR5-7200 Trident Z5 RGB aimed at high-end Intel systems, which it calls overkill for most users.

Pros: Strong Ryzen performance, good compatibility.
Cons: High power draw (TechRadar), high price (Tom's Hardware).

See G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo on Amazon →

Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB DDR5: Best mainstream kit

Best for: Buyers who want a widely sold, stable kit and do not plan to overclock.

What reviewers say: Tom's Hardware's review of the Vengeance RGB DDR5-6000 C30 (read October 22, 2026, page undated) found decent, stable out-of-box performance on Ryzen 7000 and good build quality, but noted it needs 1.4V and overclocks poorly. TechRadar's 2026 guide names the Vengeance DDR5 line its best budget pick for performance and variety, with a basic design. TechRadar's budget framing predates today's prices. Tom's Hardware listed about $399 at Newegg on October 14, 2026 for a Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB DDR5-5200 kit as a slower option. Prices change.

Pros: Stable, many speeds and capacities, AMD compatible.
Cons: 1.4V requirement and weak overclocking (Tom's Hardware).

See Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB DDR5 on Amazon →

Narrowing it down? Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing.
See WD Black SN850X on Amazon →

4. Budget options, other devices, and who should skip

Samsung 9100 Pro: Best for large PCIe 5.0 capacity

Best for: Buyers who need a very large PCIe 5.0 drive.

What reviewers say: PCMag (September 15, 2025 note) names it the best high-capacity PCIe 5.0 drive, up to 8TB, but rates it only 3.5 out of 5 for weak 4K write scores and unimpressive gaming-focused tests. Tom's Hardware's 8TB review (September 10, 2025) says it delivers but at a high price and is not the fastest. TechRadar's 2026 guide recommends it for professionals while noting it is expensive and not the fastest in random speeds. The sources agree on cost but differ on how strongly to recommend it.

Pros: Up to 8TB, efficient, strong PCMark 10 result (PCMag).
Cons: Very high price, mixed gaming scores.

See Samsung 9100 Pro on Amazon →

Budget route: PCMag (May 24, 2026) says a DDR4 build can be a compelling option, but it forces older platforms such as AM4 or Intel LGA 1700. PC Gamer (January 16, 2026) notes that slower kits may be easier to find at better prices.

Laptops: PCMag's laptop explainer advises that if you need one soon, buy before prices climb. It also suggests choosing the RAM you need at checkout, since many models solder it, or considering 2024 or 2025 models. It reports Apple raised the base MacBook Neo price by $100 on June 25, 2026.

Phones and consoles: IDC (October 14, 2026) said memory costs are up about 350% since last year and that Q3 smartphone shipments fell 22%. It suggested buyers who cannot delay may do better with holiday-quarter offers than waiting for prices to ease. CNBC (May 8, 2026) reported Nintendo raising the U.S. Switch 2 price from $449.99 to $499.99 from September 1. I found no reviewer advice on timing console purchases.

Who should skip buying: If your PC runs well, TechRadar suggests pausing a RAM upgrade until pricing settles, though it adds that this depends on conditions easing. PCMag (May 24, 2026) suggests spending on a CPU or GPU instead of more RAM and storage. PC Gamer says 64GB is not needed for gaming.

5. Setup, ownership, and safety tips

Check your motherboard's product page for compatible memory before buying, as PCMag advises. Where possible, match capacity and top speed with existing sticks. PCMag also notes that mismatched modules can work but may cause instability or a slower speed.

Use two sticks for dual channel, which TechRadar and PCMag both recommend. Then enable the XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) profile in the BIOS, as PC Gamer explains, so the kit runs at its rated speed.

For SSDs, measure twice. PCMag says laptops usually fit one drive length, and a thick heatsink is usually unsuitable inside a laptop. TechRadar says a PS5 drive must be PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe with a cooling structure that fits Sony's size limits.

Back up your data before swapping drives, and use the cloning software some SSD makers include, as PCMag notes. PCMag also warns that upgrading a laptop SSD may affect an existing warranty. If a deal looks unusually cheap, confirm the seller and return policy first.

Ready to compare options? Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing.
Shop Samsung 990 Pro →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy RAM now or wait?

Guides differ by situation. TechRadar suggests pausing a RAM upgrade if your PC works, while PCMag's laptop explainer says to buy sooner if you know you need a new laptop. Ars Technica reported on October 1, 2026 that Micron's CEO expects supply to stay tight, but no source here can say what prices will do.

Is DDR4 worth it instead of DDR5?

PCMag (May 24, 2026) says a DDR4 build can be a compelling option for thrifty builders, but it requires older CPUs and boards such as AM4 or LGA 1700. DDR5 still suits high-refresh gaming best, it adds.

Are phones and consoles also getting more expensive?

IDC said on October 14, 2026 that memory costs rose about 350% since last year and Q3 smartphone shipments fell 22%. CNBC reported on May 8, 2026 that Nintendo raised the U.S. Switch 2 price to $499.99 from September 1.

How much RAM do I need?

PC Gamer (updated January 16, 2026) calls 32GB the baseline for mid-range and up gaming PCs. TechRadar says only specific professional users need more than 32GB.

Shop These on Amazon

These are the products covered above, listed for easy comparison.

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