ASUS: RAM and flash memory set to become significantly more expensive from January 5
Just ahead of CES 2026, the RAM supply situation appears to be reaching a critical point. ASUS will raise prices for select memory products starting January 5. The information comes from a leaked internal letter to business partners, originally published by Videocardz. ASUS Taiwan has since confirmed the document’s authenticity, noting that it was internal B2B communication not intended for public release.
The price adjustments specifically affect SSDs and DRAM kits, although only select product combinations and configurations are impacted, according to the document. The timing – just ahead of CES 2026 – is widely seen within the industry as a strategic move to establish new pricing benchmarks. ASUS has not yet provided details on individual models or the exact scope of the increases. Industry rumors suggest that RAM prices could rise by as much as 45% over the course of 2026.
The price hikes could impact all hardware segments that depend on memory components such as DRAM or NAND flash, including laptops, prebuilt PCs and graphics cards. In response, ASUS is extending support for DDR4 motherboards, giving users the option to stick with the older standard, which has also seen price increases but remains more affordable overall. Other manufacturers are beginning to introduce similar stopgap measures. For example, more laptops are expected to ship with just 8 GB of RAM going forward.
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Image source: ASUS
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