Raspberry Pi Foundation shares supply chain issues update while announcing Pi Zero and Pi Zero W price rises
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has offered some clarity about the state of supply issues affecting it. To recap, Eben Upton explained last month in an interview with Micro Center that Raspberry Pi shortages would extend deep into 2023. As we discussed then, Upton hoped availability would improve by the end of next year, albeit without providing specifics.
Now, Upton has provided a supply chain update via the Raspberry Pi blog, in which he outlines the roadmap for the next twelve months. According to Upton, the Pi Foundation has 'set aside' approximately 100,000 units combined of the Zero W, Pi 3A+ and the Pi 4 with 2 GB and 4 GB of RAM. Conversely, there are limited supply chain issues with the Raspberry Pi Pico and Pico W, which Upton reports 'remain in a strong stock position'.
Moving into 2023, Upton claims that stock levels will remain 'lean' until the end of March. However, he expects a recovery to pre-pandemic levels in Q2 2023, which reads like May or early June at the earliest. Upton adds that stock levels will be 'unlimited' in 2H 2023, with consumer stocking levels anticipated to match demand by the end of Q3.
Additionally, Upton remarks that availability will initially improve for the Zero and Zero W, before expanding to the Pi 3A and finally to the Pi 4. The Foundation will raise Zero and Zero W prices by US$5 to maintain commercial viability though, albeit with no order limitations from next year onwards. As a result, the Pi Zero will increase from US$5 to US$10 and the Pi Zero W from US$10 to US$15. You can read more about Upton's supply chain update via the link below.
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