As prices rose, the impact began reaching consumers directly. The cost of building or upgrading a PC increased, laptop prices moved upward, and even smartphones started facing pressure from higher component costs. As a result, it became natural for users to increasingly search for newer platforms that support DDR5, while choosing a suitable motherboard for next-generation platforms became a smart step to secure compatibility and stabilize upgrade costs in the near term.
From an upgrade perspective, purchasing RAM is no longer a “routine” decision as it was in previous years. The widening gap between supply and demand has forced the market into a rapidly accelerating price surge, especially as DDR4 approaches the end of its commercial lifecycle while demand for it remains strong.
For users considering replacing their entire device instead of upgrading, the market is currently witnessing volatility in mid-range and high-end laptop prices. This is largely due to RAM and SSD storage being integrated into most new laptop models, making well-planned purchasing decisions far more important at this stage.
To understand the full picture more clearly, we first need to break down what is happening in the RAM market during 2025, then examine why price increases extended to storage devices, and finally explore the most likely scenarios for 2026.
First: What Is Happening in the RAM (DRAM) Market During 2025?
1) Accelerated Price Increases in the Final Quarter
TrendForce, the most important global reference for semiconductor pricing, indicates that conventional DRAM prices are trending toward quarterly increases of 8%–13% in Q4 2025. When high-performance HBM products are included, the increase reaches 13%–18%. The key takeaway is that these increases are not marginal; they reflect a clear shortage in supply, which quickly transfers to retail RAM prices.
2) Official Price Hikes by Major Manufacturers
One of the strongest indicators of an upward pricing cycle is when manufacturers themselves raise prices. On November 14, 2025, Reuters reported that Samsung increased DRAM chip prices by up to 60% for certain products and significantly raised DDR5 prices due to worsening shortages and strong AI data center demand. Decisions made at the source make retail price increases a matter of time rather than speculation.
3) The Spot Market Fueling the Price Surge
The spot market reacts fastest to supply shortages. With sharp spot price increases throughout 2025 and 2026, pressure began transferring to contract pricing and eventually to retail. Technical reports documented aggressive jumps in DDR4 and DDR5 spot prices, particularly as available quantities tightened and some vendors delayed pricing offers in anticipation of further increases.
With continued pricing pressure expected in the coming months, users considering a system upgrade or comparing available options before another price wave can monitor current RAM models and prices closely.
Second: Why Are RAM Prices Rising? Core Structural Reasons
1) AI Boom and HBM Consuming Production Capacity
The largest driver of the 2025 and 2026 pricing cycle is massive AI demand. AI servers rely on HBM memory operating alongside accelerators such as Nvidia GPUs. This type of memory consumes significantly more manufacturing capacity than traditional DRAM. TrendForce and industry sources have confirmed that expanding HBM production came at the expense of DDR4 and DDR5 output, reducing supply and pushing prices upward.
Because HBM demand exceeded supply, Micron announced in March 2025 that its entire HBM production for 2025 was already sold out due to AI companies. This means the best manufacturing capacity is now reserved for artificial intelligence rather than consumer markets.
2) Expansion of Data Centers and Cloud Computing
Data centers expanded aggressively during 2025, requiring massive amounts of server-grade RAM. Reuters recorded year-over-year DRAM price increases of up to 171.8% in Q3 2025 due to server demand and inventory rebuilding driven by AI growth. When servers absorb supply, desktop RAM costs inevitably rise.
3) DDR4 Nearing End of Commercial Life While Demand Persists
DDR4 is gradually exiting production lines in favor of DDR5 and HBM. However, demand remains strong across budget PCs, mid-range laptops, legacy servers, and industrial systems. TrendForce estimates that DDR4 will face a clear shortage by the end of 2025 and that 2026 will not fully close the gap, as factories accelerate phase-out and shift capacity toward HBM and DDR5. This is precisely why DDR4 prices are rising faster than expected, it has become a scarce product.
4) Declining Global Inventories and Precautionary Purchasing
After the inventory surplus of 2023, stock levels gradually declined until reaching critical levels in 2025. This prompted companies to engage in advance purchasing and stockpiling out of concern for deeper shortages in 2026, amplifying demand and creating a self-reinforcing inflation cycle.
Third: Why Have Storage Prices (NAND, SSD, HDD) Also Increased?
1) NAND Entering a New Upward Cycle After Two Years of Decline
TrendForce expects NAND prices to rise by 5%–10% in Q4 2025, followed by double-digit increases in Q1 2026 as manufacturers gradually raise prices. The underlying reason is that projected demand growth in 2026 exceeds supply growth, ensuring continued upward pressure.
2) AI Driving Enterprise SSD Prices Higher
AI servers consume not only RAM but also large volumes of fast NVMe and enterprise SSD storage for training and inference data. TrendForce confirmed that AI has become a primary growth engine for NAND revenues through enterprise SSDs, reducing supply for consumer markets and pushing SSD prices higher overall.
3) HDD Supply Constraints Increasing Pressure on SSDs
With volatile HDD supply and rising costs for data center deployments, some companies shifted part of their storage demand toward SSDs, further increasing pressure on NAND. TrendForce noted that NAND manufacturers reduced output in the second half of 2025 while prices were rising, increasing market tension heading into 2026.
Fourth: What Should We Expect in 2026? Will Prices Fall?
Current indicators suggest that 2026 will largely extend the 2025 cycle, especially in the first half, for several reasons:
- AI and server demand remains strong, with HBM locked into long-term contracts.
- TrendForce expects a “structural price increase” in memory and storage through 2026 due to capacity shifts toward higher-margin products.
- DDR4 shortages are likely to persist as production declines faster than demand.
- NAND is positioned for significant increases at the start of 2026.
The most likely scenario:
- Continued price increases or elevated price stability in Q1–Q2 2026.
- Potential gradual easing in the second half of 2026 if supply catches up, though this is not guaranteed given the strength of the AI cycle.
Fifth: How Do Rising RAM and Storage Prices Affect Devices?
1) PCs and Gaming Builds
PCs are the most sensitive segment because users purchase RAM and SSDs separately. With continued DDR4 scarcity and rising DDR5 prices, mid-range and high-end build costs increase, while manufacturers may reduce default capacities in budget systems.
2) Laptops
Since most modern laptops rely on soldered RAM and SSDs, rising costs translate into higher prices for mid-range models or reduced default capacities in budget laptops.
3) Smartphones and Tablets
Mobile devices use LPDDR and NAND/UFS storage. As part of LPDDR demand shifts toward enterprise and AI sectors, component costs continue to rise gradually.
4) Servers and Cloud Infrastructure
Rising costs in 2026 may affect hosting prices, cloud storage fees, and dedicated server costs.
Sixth: What Does This Mean for Consumers in Egypt and the Arab Region?
Arab markets are disproportionately affected by global increases due to near-total reliance on imports, shipping costs, customs duties, and exchange rate fluctuations. As a result, local price increases may appear faster, particularly for DDR4 and high-capacity SSDs (1TB and above).
Seventh: Indicators to Watch for Market Cooling
- Spot prices declining for two or three consecutive months.
- Suppliers lifting quantity restrictions and resuming full shipments.
- New production capacity entering the market.
Eighth: Practical Advice for Consumers and Businesses in 2025–2026
- For Consumers: If you need a RAM or SSD upgrade soon, early purchasing is often cheaper. For new builds, DDR5 platforms are a better long-term choice.
- For Businesses: Lock in supply contracts for 6–12 months to reduce risk.
Conclusion
The price increases of 2025 and 2026 reflect a structural transformation in the global RAM and storage market driven by artificial intelligence. Production priority has shifted toward higher-margin products, while DDR4 production declines despite ongoing demand. Whether you are a consumer planning a system upgrade or a company expanding cloud infrastructure, early planning remains the most effective tool for reducing the impact of this inflation cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - El Yamama Store
1. Should I buy RAM and SSDs now from El Yamama Store or wait?Current market data suggests that prices will remain high or continue to rise through early 2026. If you have an immediate need for an upgrade or a new build, purchasing now from current stock is likely to be more cost-effective than waiting for future shipments.
2. Why is DDR4 getting more expensive if it's "old" technology?Manufacturers have shifted their factory lines to produce DDR5 and HBM for the AI sector. This has created a global shortage of DDR4 chips. Because many users in Egypt still use DDR4 systems, the high demand combined with low supply is driving local prices up.
3. Will laptop prices at El Yamama Store be affected?Yes. Because the cost of internal components like RAM and SSDs has risen at the factory level, laptop manufacturers are increasing their wholesale prices. Buying currently available models is a good way to avoid the next wave of price hikes.
4. Which is the better investment right now: DDR4 or DDR5?If you are building a new system, we highly recommend the DDR5 platform. While it may have a higher upfront cost, it is the future standard. DDR4 is becoming a "scarcity" item, which may make future upgrades more difficult and expensive.
5. Are there any signs that SSD prices will drop soon?Not in the immediate future. With AI servers consuming the majority of high-speed enterprise SSD production, consumer-grade storage (NVMe and SATA) is facing tighter supply. We expect price volatility to continue through the first half of 2026.
Need expert advice on your next upgrade? Contact the El Yamama Store team for personalized recommendations.