U.S. tech giant Micron has officially unveiled a drastic revision of its pricing strategy for DRAM and NAND products. According to the company's statement, memory prices will increase gradually through 2026. The surge is driven by skyrocketing demand from the AI industry, cloud services, and a rebounding consumer electronics market.
A key driver of these price hikes is high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is essential for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel’s AI accelerators. Demand for these solutions has already exceeded forecasts by 2.5 times in 2024, and Micron estimates that by 2026, the HBM shortage will reach critical levels. To take the lead in the HBM race, Micron is investing $7 billion in a new plant dedicated to next-generation memory — HBM3E and HBM4. Slated to launch in 2026, the facility will triple the company's production capacity. However, experts warn that even these measures won’t fully meet market demand.
Meanwhile, the AI boom is also fueling demand for traditional memory types. Smartphone and PC manufacturers planning flagship releases for 2025–2026 have already increased their orders by 30% compared to last year, putting unprecedented pressure on supply chains. Micron is urging partners to sign long-term contracts to lock in prices, but smaller players risk being left behind.
The memory market is entering an era of turbulence. While prices once followed cyclical trends, they are now undergoing structural shifts driven by AI. This means rising costs for businesses and an accelerating tech race: those who adapt their production fast enough will emerge as new market leaders, while others risk losing ground. For everyday consumers, the message is clear: the era of "smart but expensive" devices is here to stay.
