SSDs surge 220%: the price crisis AI triggered

What happened?

A year ago, during Amazon's Prime Day, a Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB drive could be purchased for $113. Today, that same model costs $363, a 220% increase. In May 2026, its peak price reached $465, more than four times its value in 2025. This is not an isolated case: all SSDs, from M.2 Gen5 to SATA, have experienced similar increases. According to Tom's Hardware, the SSD market has suffered an 'absolute hit' due to the AI crisis, similar to what happened with RAM. The main cause is the redirection of NAND flash and controller production towards higher-margin products for artificial intelligence. Manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have prioritized the production of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and enterprise SSDs for data centers, leaving less capacity for the consumer market. Additionally, Micron has eliminated its Crucial brand, further reducing the supply of affordable SSDs. The fragmentation of the SSD market—with M.2 Gen5, Gen4, SATA, and external interfaces—complicates the picture, but the upward trend is uniform.

Why does it matter?

For consumers, building or upgrading a PC has become much more expensive. SSDs were a relatively cheap component that was easy to include in any budget; now they are a luxury. For businesses, especially those that rely on fast storage for AI workloads or data analytics, operational costs have skyrocketed. But the impact goes further: the SSD shortage delays the adoption of technologies like Windows 11, which requires fast storage, and slows down the refresh of computer fleets. It also affects sectors like gaming, video editing, and data science, where high-speed storage is critical. Historically, the SSD market had experienced a downward price trend for years, with annual reductions of 20-30%. The current crisis breaks that trend and recalls the semiconductor shortage of 2021-2022, but this time it is driven by AI demand, not the pandemic. Unlike that crisis, which was temporary, the current one could have a more lasting impact due to the structural reconfiguration of the supply chain.

What consequences will it have?

In the short term, prices will remain high as AI demand continues to absorb semiconductor production. Analysts expect the situation to persist at least until the end of 2027, when new NAND fabs come online. Meanwhile, consumers will have to opt for smaller SSDs or resort to second-hand deals. In the long term, this crisis could accelerate the diversification of memory production, with investments in countries like India and the United States to reduce dependence on Korea and Taiwan. It could also boost alternatives like CXL (Compute Express Link) based storage or new non-volatile memory technologies. However, there are no signs that prices will return to 2025 levels in the foreseeable future. The SSD crisis is a reflection of how AI is reshaping the entire semiconductor supply chain, leaving the end consumer in the background. For businesses, this means reassessing budgets and prioritizing storage investments, while for PC enthusiasts, it may be time to delay non-essential upgrades.

What should readers know?

• Don't buy SSDs now unless it's urgent: Prices are at historic highs; wait for occasional deals or for supply to normalize. For example, during Prime Day in July 2026, some 1TB Gen4 models might see discounts, but they will still be expensive.
• Consider SATA SSDs: Although slower, they have risen less than M.2 and remain a viable option for secondary storage. A 2TB SATA SSD costs about 30% less than an equivalent M.2.
• Check the second-hand market: Used high-capacity drives can be a bargain if you verify their health with tools like CrystalDiskInfo. However, be cautious of drives with heavy wear.
• Prioritize capacity over speed: A 2TB Gen4 SSD may be more practical than a 1TB Gen5 at the same price, as the speed difference is not noticeable in most everyday tasks.

"The SSD price crisis is a reflection of how AI is reshaping the entire semiconductor supply chain, leaving the end consumer in the background." — TheVortiq

In summary, the SSD market is going through a perfect storm: AI demand, closure of consumer production lines, and lack of new fabs. Until supply recovers, consumers will have to adapt or wait. History shows that these cycles are temporary, but the magnitude of AI demand suggests that recovery will be slow.