US — The Verge
The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 got another ‘unavoidable’ RAM price hike
Devices1 min read
The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5, a small and cheap computer, now costs $385 after an $80 price increase. The rise is part of a wider shortage of computer memory (RAM).
The price goes up again
Raspberry Pi has raised the price of its 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 by $80, to $385. This model first sold for $120, so it now costs more than three times that. The 16GB versions of the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 also rose by $40, to between $375 and $415.
Key numbers
- 16GB Raspberry Pi 5: $385 now, up $80, launched at $120
- 16GB Compute Module 5: up $40, now $375 to $415
- The 2GB Raspberry Pi 5 also got a price increase last month
- $385 is close to the price of a desktop mini PC
Why the price is rising
RAM is the memory a computer uses to run programs quickly. Many companies need RAM, and supply has become tight. Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton says the main problem is a lack of other supply for 16GB memory chips, plus shortages of other parts.
Why it matters
Raspberry Pi computers are popular with students, hobbyists, and makers because they are cheap. When the price of memory rises, even low-cost devices become more expensive. Upton suggests people choose a model with less memory if they do not need all 16GB.
What to watch
- Whether Raspberry Pi lowers prices when memory costs fall, as Upton has promised
- How long the RAM shortage lasts; Samsung expects it to continue until at least 2028
- Whether other electronics makers also raise prices
Glossary
- Raspberry Pi 5
- A small, low-cost computer board made by Raspberry Pi that can run software like a regular computer.
- RAM
- Memory a computer uses to run programs quickly. More RAM lets a device handle more tasks at once.
- Compute Module 5
- A version of the Raspberry Pi 5 built onto a small board, made for use inside other products.
- Eben Upton
- CEO of Raspberry Pi, the company that makes the Raspberry Pi computers.
- Samsung
- A large electronics company that makes memory chips and phones.