PC users hoping for cheaper RAM and SSDs in 2026 may have to wait longer. Memory prices have increased sharply this year, and the latest market forecasts suggest that prices are unlikely to fall significantly in the near term.
One of the biggest reasons is the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. AI data centers require huge amounts of memory, including DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), while large amounts of NAND storage are also needed for servers. Memory manufacturers are therefore giving more production capacity to AI and enterprise customers. This leaves less supply available for consumer products such as desktop RAM and client SSDs.
RAM Prices Remain Under Pressure
RAM has been one of the most affected PC components in 2026. TrendForce forecast conventional DRAM contract prices to increase by 13% to 18% during the third quarter of 2026. Although this is much slower than the huge increases seen earlier in the year, it still means the market is moving upward rather than downward.
The situation is particularly challenging for DDR5 memory. Manufacturers are prioritizing server and AI-related products because they offer strong demand and higher margins. As a result, consumer PC memory can remain relatively expensive even when demand from ordinary PC buyers becomes weaker.
However, there is some positive news for consumers. Buyers are becoming less willing to accept higher prices. PC and smartphone manufacturers are also becoming more cautious with their purchases because expensive memory increases the cost of their products. This could slow the pace of future price increases.
What About SSD Prices?
SSD prices are facing a similar situation because they depend on NAND Flash memory. Demand from AI data centers and enterprise storage has remained strong, putting pressure on NAND supply.
TrendForce expects NAND Flash contract prices to increase by around 10% to 15% in the third quarter of 2026. At the same time, consumer demand has weakened because SSD prices have already reached high levels.
There is a small reason for optimism in the consumer SSD market. PC manufacturers built up SSD inventories during the first half of the year, reducing their willingness to accept another large round of price increases. This has encouraged suppliers to become more flexible during negotiations.
Could Prices Fall Later?
A major price decline is possible if AI-related demand slows, memory production increases significantly, or consumer demand falls further. However, there is currently no strong indication that a major drop is about to happen.
The memory market is also expected to remain tight because manufacturers continue shifting capacity toward AI servers and other high-performance applications. Recent industry analysis suggests that memory supply could remain structurally tight beyond 2026.
For consumers planning a PC upgrade, waiting several months could still bring better deals on individual SSD and RAM models. Retail discounts can appear even when overall memory prices remain high. But buyers should not assume that waiting until the end of 2026 will automatically mean much cheaper components.
Overall, SSD and RAM prices may eventually stabilize, but a major price drop in 2026 looks uncertain. AI demand, limited production capacity and strong enterprise storage requirements are likely to keep pressure on the memory market for the rest of the year.
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