Raspberry Pi Price Hikes Push Hardware Into Luxury Territory
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The Raspberry Pi 5 16GB now costs $385, marking a steep climb from its $120 launch price as memory shortages plague the industry.
Raspberry Pi has implemented another round of price increases, specifically targeting models with 16GB of RAM. As CNX Software first reported, the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB now retails for $385, representing an $80 jump from the previous price hike in April 2026.
Other hardware is seeing similar escalations. CNX Software reports the Raspberry Pi CM5 system-on-module has increased by $40, with the wireless-free Lite model starting at $375. The Raspberry Pi 500+ mechanical keyboard PC is not seeing a price change, remaining at $410. This pricing trend follows a pattern of volatility in the single board computer (SBC) market; CNX Software notes that on April 1, 2026, all Raspberry Pi boards with 4GB of RAM or more saw increases, and on October 1, 2026, the 2GB versions of the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 were also hiked.
These costs are not isolated to one brand. CNX Software highlights that NVIDIA increased Jetson module and devkit prices by up to 101% on July 22, 2026, while the Arduino VENTUNO Q rose from $299 to $399 on October 19, 2026. Other vendors including Radxa, Hardkernel, Banana Pi, and Orange Pi have also implemented price increases.
The instability is driven by a global RAM shortage. CNX Software reports that Micron expects the shortage to persist until at least 2028, while SK Hynix suggests a resolution may not arrive until 2030. Additional pressures include the war in the Middle East, which threatens the supply of critical materials like helium used in chip manufacturing.