These Raspberry Pi price hikes are no joke

2026-04-01 · Source: The Verge · Field: Technology & Digital — Internet of Things (IoT) & Connected Devices, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Raspberry Pi has increased prices on over a dozen of its bare-bones computers, including a $100 hike for the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5, bringing its price close to its original $120 tag. These increases, ranging from $11.25 to $150, are attributed to an ongoing global RAM shortage and follow previous price adjustments in December and February. CEO Eben Upton stated these changes are temporary and will be reversed once market conditions improve. To mitigate the impact, Raspberry Pi also introduced a new 3GB RAM version of the Raspberry Pi 4, priced at $83.75, available immediately, as models with 4GB or more memory have been most affected by memory price surges.

Key takeaway

For entrepreneurs or hobbyists planning new projects with Raspberry Pi, you should factor in the current price increases, especially for higher-memory models. Consider the newly released 3GB Raspberry Pi 4 at $83.75 as a more cost-effective alternative if your application can accommodate less RAM, and anticipate potential price adjustments in the future as market conditions evolve.

Key insights

Ongoing RAM shortages are driving significant, albeit temporary, price increases across Raspberry Pi's product line.

Principles

• Supply chain disruptions impact product pricing.
• Higher memory configurations are more price-sensitive.

In practice

• Consider 3GB Raspberry Pi 4 for cost savings.
• Monitor RAM market for future price reversals.

Topics

• Raspberry Pi
• Price Hikes
• RAM Shortage
• Raspberry Pi 5
• Raspberry Pi 4

Best for: Entrepreneur, Software Engineer, AI Student, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by The Verge.