Asus is preparing to increase prices on ssds and dram kits in 2026, in a move it describes as a strategic response to ongoing cost pressures in the memory market. The company recently confirmed, via Digitimes, that a 2026 price hike on ssds and dram kits will come into effect on January 5, 2026. This announcement follows earlier reports that Asus was planning to expand its ddr4 compatible motherboard production as a way to offer more affordable build options to pc gamers during a growing dram shortage that has driven the price of ddr5 and nand significantly higher.
In its statement, Asus says the price increase has become necessary after it has been absorbing and responding to cost pressure over an extended period. The company attributes these rising costs to supply chain pressure caused by increased demand from the artificial intelligence industry, which is consuming large volumes of dram and nand. While Asus directly mentions dram and ssds in its announcement, it does not specify which exact products will see a price increase, leaving room for speculation across its broader component and device portfolio.
Analysts and industry watchers expect the impact of these adjustments to be felt most acutely in laptops, pc builds, smartphones, video cards, and gaming handhelds, where memory components represent a substantial share of the bill of materials. The decision from Asus aligns with earlier industry rumors that the current dram shortage could cause launch delays for major hardware brands. The far reaching effects of the dram crisis may extend to next gen gaming consoles as well, which have been predicted to be delayed to well after the expected 2028 launch period, underscoring how artificial intelligence driven demand for memory is reshaping timelines and pricing across the consumer electronics landscape.
