Memory Card Meltdown

[rulnacco]

Hi! For those of us who also shoot digital, I wanted to offer a word of warning based on information I learned today.

I stopped in at Roberts Camera in Indianapolis, my local store--and one of the very best in the country, as many of you know from dealing with them or their second-hand business, Used Photo Pro. Two veteran members of staff, both of whom I'm on very friendly terms with and who had no grounds to profit by doing so, warned me that if I needed any memory cards, that I needed to buy them ASAP. They said they have already received advisories from several manufacturers of extreme price increases--they said in excess of 100%--and limited, possibly very limited availability of these items after the first of the year.

They laid the blame on the exploding AI industry, which seems to have such a demand for all kinds of memory that manufacturers are shifting over to satisfy their needs and demands and prioritizing them over those of photographers and others. I'm fortunate that all my current memory card needs are covered, but if anyone does need something in that line, it seems now is the time to buy.

 

[raydm6]

Thanks for the heads up.

The Coming Memory Card Crisis: Why Photographers Need to Act Now

Memory Card Shortage 2026 is hitting SD and CFexpress prices. Stock up now to protect your photography workflow before supplies run out.

luminous-landscape.com

From Perplexity AI:

Yes, industry analysts and major suppliers are warning of a significant global **memory** shortage in 2026 that will hit DRAM and NAND flash (the chips inside SD cards, SSDs, phones, and cameras), with steep price increases and tight availability rather than complete disappearance from shelves.[1][2][3]

## What “crisis” means in 2026

- Multiple analysts expect DRAM and NAND supply growth in 2026 to lag demand, keeping the market in shortage through at least late 2026 and possibly into 2027.[3][4]
- Research houses report that DRAM prices jumped dramatically in late 2025 (several hundred percent in some contract cases) and forecast further large increases into early 2026, with NAND (flash for SSDs and cards) also roughly doubling in price versus earlier levels.[2][5]

## Why it is happening

- AI data centers and high‑bandwidth memory for GPUs are consuming a growing share of memory production, while suppliers shift capacity toward premium AI and enterprise products instead of commodity PC/phone memory and removable storage.[6][1]
- Years of under‑investment in NAND plus the phase‑out of older processes (like DDR4 lines and legacy NAND nodes often used for cheaper consumer products) are tightening “mainstream” supply even as overall chip output rises.[7][6]

## Impact on memory cards and consumer gear

- NAND suppliers report that 2026 allocations are largely sold out, and contract prices for flash are widely expected to rise by double digits, with some segments already seeing 20–60% monthly jumps at the wafer level.[5][7]
- Storage vendors and analysts warn that higher DRAM and NAND costs are feeding into end products, with estimates that memory alone could add roughly US$100 to basic PCs in 2026 and push up BOM costs for smartphones, SSDs, and likely SD/microSD cards as well.[8][1]

## How bad could it get?

- One major controller vendor (Phison) has even suggested NAND flash could remain structurally tight for many years, calling for a “supercycle” with particularly severe shortages around 2026, although other analysts see the worst easing after 2026–2027 as new fabs ramp.[9][6]
- Forecasts from rating agencies and industry groups consistently describe 2026 as a period of “persistent” or “severe” memory shortages, not a brief blip, with elevated prices and sporadic product delays rather than a total collapse in availability.[4][3]

## Practical takeaway for you (2025–early 2026)

- If you know you will need extra SSDs or SD/microSD cards (for cameras, Steam Deck/Switch storage, or backups) in 2026, buying key items in late 2025 or early 2026 reduces the risk of higher prices or limited choice later in the year.[7][2]
- For big builds or upgrades (new PC, NAS, camera system), planning earlier, being flexible on brand/model, and watching for retailer promos will help manage costs during what is widely expected to be a tight memory market in 2026.[1][9]

Sources
[1] Memory chip shortage 2026 worsens as Samsung hikes prices 60% Memory chip shortage 2026 worsens as Samsung hikes prices 60%—and it's hitting everyone from NVIDIA to your next PC upgrade
[2] RAM Shortage 2025: How AI Demand is Raising DRAM Prices RAM Shortage 2025: How AI Demand is Raising DRAM Prices | IntuitionLabs
[3] Asia Tech Hardware: The Credit Impact Of Rising Memory Prices https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en...dit-impact-of-rising-memory-prices-s101660049
[4] Global Memory Shortage Crisis: Market Analysis and the ... - IDC Global Memory Shortage Crisis: Market Analysis and the Potential Impact on the Smartphone and PC Markets in 2026
[5] NAND Flash Wafer Supply Tightens Further, Some Products See ... NAND Flash Wafer Supply Tightens Further, Some Products See Over 60% Contract Price Hikes in November, Says TrendForce
[6] Phison CEO claims NAND shortage could last a staggering 10 years https://finance.yahoo.com/news/phison-ceo-claims-nand-shortage-164407452.html
[7] Global Memory and Storage Supply Shortage Projected for 2026 Global Memory and Storage Supply Shortage Projected for 2026
[8] 2026 Smartphone Shipment Forecasts Revised Down as Memory ... 2026 Smartphone Shipment Forecasts Revised Down as Memory Shortage Drives BoM Costs Up
[9] Goldman Sachs research seems to point towards DRAM and SSD ... Looks like memory prices are set to keep increasing over 2026 before falling
[10] DRAM prices surge amid AI-driven shortage - Sourceability General memory prices increase 30% to 60% | Sourceability

 

[Zuiko-logist]

Thanks indeed.

 

[Richard G]

Bought two non-professional 32 GB Lexars for ~Australian $23 each this morning. Thanks.