Kingston & SK Hynix Urge Immediate RAM/SSD Upgrades as Crisis Extends to 2028

Urgent Upgrade Advisory: RAM and SSD Prices Poised for Prolonged Surge

For anyone contemplating an upgrade to their computer's Random Access Memory (RAM) or Solid State Drive (SSD), procrastination is now a luxury you may not be able to afford. Cameron Crandall, Kingston's SSD product manager for data centers, has issued a stark warning: the era of falling memory prices is far behind us, with a significant upward trend expected to persist well into 2026 and potentially beyond.

The NAND Avalanche: Explaining the Price Hike

At the heart of this impending cost escalation lies NAND flash memory, the foundational technology for SSDs and a component that indirectly influences RAM pricing. Crandall revealed a staggering 246% increase in NAND prices since the first quarter of 2025, with an alarming 70% of that surge occurring within a mere 60-day window. Given that NAND constitutes roughly 90% of an SSD's bill of materials, manufacturers are compelled to recalibrate their pricing strategies for end-user products. "The best course of action, if you're planning an upgrade, is to do it now and don't wait, because prices are going to continue to climb," Crandall emphatically stated. He elaborated, "Don't put off your purchase. It's going to be more expensive in 30 days. And it'll be more expensive in the next 30 days." This unprecedented price volatility, Crandall noted, is something he hasn't witnessed in his 29 years in the industry.

Divergent Forecasts and the AI Boom's Shadow

This somber outlook from Kingston contrasts with some more optimistic predictions, such as those from Sapphire, which anticipated a potential stabilization in the DRAM market within the next 6 to 8 months. However, Crandall acknowledges the inherent cyclical nature of the memory market, currently experiencing a pronounced growth phase. This explains the cautious approach by manufacturers regarding capacity expansion or the construction of new fabrication plants. The underlying fear is the potential bursting of the "AI bubble," leaving companies with a surplus of NAND inventory devoid of demand.

Kingston's Consumer Commitment Amidst Market Shifts

During the podcast discussion, the question of Kingston's potential departure from the consumer segment, mirroring Micron's (Crucial) strategic shift, was addressed. Crandall reassured listeners that Kingston remains committed to its distribution channels and, in collaboration with other SSD and RAM manufacturers, will work to fill the void left by Crucial's exit. Nevertheless, the overall memory shortage is intensifying, largely driven by the insatiable appetite of AI data centers.

Wider Market Repercussions and a Bleak Outlook

The ripple effects are already being felt across the industry. Samsung has reportedly doubled its contract prices for DDR5 memory. Major laptop manufacturers like Dell and Lenovo are now limiting average configurations to just 8GB of RAM to manage the cost of their devices. Even anticipated consumer electronics, such as Valve's Steam Machine, might face delays or arrive in barebone configurations due to component scarcity.

SK Hynix Paints a Grim Picture: The 2028 Horizon

The situation appears even more dire according to internal analyses from SK Hynix. Jay, a commentator for BullsLab, shared insights suggesting that the DRAM deficit could realistically persist until at least 2028. This prolonged shortage is attributed to the slow pace of new factory deployments, meaning substantial volumes of DRAM are not expected to hit the market before that year. Compounding this supply-side constraint is the ever-increasing demand for computing power, particularly fueled by the burgeoning AI ecosystem. SK Hynix's internal projections, excluding HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and SOC (System on a Chip) AMM, indicate constrained bit growth for commodity DRAM through 2028. While acknowledging this as one of several possible scenarios, SK Hynix does not foresee market stabilization earlier than 2028. More optimistic outcomes, like those predicted by Sapphire, remain contingent on consumers refraining from panic-driven purchasing, a scenario that appears increasingly unlikely given the current market dynamics.