The memory apocalypse has already hit prices of RAM and SSDs as AI data centres buy up all the available stock, and it's only going to get worse according to Jefferies Equity Research. As reported by Wccftech, memory prices are likely to go up between 40 and 50% in the third quarter of 2026, and then another 30 to 40% in the fourth quarter, followed by a 40–45% increase year-on-year in 2027.
Jefferies is only predicting a recovery thanks to increased production in 2028, and even then, only of around 15–20%. While former Samsung boss Kyung-Hyeon Kye predicted an earlier end to the memory crisis thanks to an increase in Chinese manufacturing, now it seems like Chinese memory isn't actually selling for less.
At the moment, the memory apocalypse has mainly been a downer for anyone looking to build a new PC or pick up a Steam Machine. But Apple recently announced it's jacking up the price of iPads and Macbooks by hundreds of dollars, and iPhones won't be far behind. It'll be interesting to see whether ordinary folks still think it's worth building data centres to make coding easier for some programmers when it means they can't afford a new phone.
Basically, the AI bubble can't burst soon enough. And given that OpenAI lost $38.53 billion in 2025, there's at least some hope on that front. Whether it means the price of memory will actually go back down, or just stay at whatever the new normal becomes, remains to be seen.
