Framework’s Memory Prices Rise Again, More Increases Expected
▼ Summary
– Framework is increasing the price of its DDR5 RAM modules, now charging $10 per GB for capacities up to 32GB.
– This is the company’s second recent price hike, with specific examples showing the 8GB module rising from $60 to $80 and the 48GB option more than doubling to $620.
– The price increase affects memory options for Framework’s DIY Edition laptop, though customers can avoid it by ordering the laptop without RAM and sourcing it separately.
– Framework warns that further price adjustments are likely within the next month as supplier costs continue to rise into early 2026.
– A global memory shortage is expected to persist into 2027 as major manufacturers shift resources toward the AI industry.
The cost of building or upgrading a modular Framework laptop is climbing, as the company implements another significant price increase on its DDR5 memory modules. Citing continued pressure from suppliers, Framework has raised its per-gigabyte price to $10 for most configurations, a move that follows an earlier hike announced just this month. This ongoing trend reflects broader industry challenges, with analysts predicting memory shortages and elevated costs for the foreseeable future.
This latest adjustment means customers will pay substantially more for RAM when configuring a new DIY Edition laptop. The 8GB module now costs $80, up from $60, while the 16GB option has increased from $120 to $160. For the 32GB variation, the price has risen from $240 to $320. The most dramatic jump is seen in the 48GB option, which has more than doubled from its June 2025 price of $240 to a new cost of $620. Larger kits are also affected, with a 64GB (2x32GB) set priced at $640 and a 96GB (2x48GB) kit now costing $1,240.
Framework is not currently selling these DDR5 modules as standalone products, choosing instead to preserve its inventory for laptop configurations. However, the company offers a direct workaround for cost-conscious builders. Customers can order the DIY Edition laptop without any memory installed, which allows them to either reuse a compatible module they already own or source a more affordable option elsewhere. To facilitate this, Framework now provides a direct link on its product pages to PCPartPicker, a popular platform for comparing component prices and availability.
Unfortunately for consumers, this upward pricing trend shows no signs of stopping soon. In its announcement, Framework indicated that its suppliers are forecasting “prices will continue to increase going into early 2026.” The company stated it has absorbed some of these cost increases to moderate the latest prices but warned that another adjustment will likely be necessary within the next month. Framework emphasized that any future price moves will strictly mirror supplier costs, with a commitment to lower prices for customers when those underlying costs eventually decrease.
This situation extends far beyond a single manufacturer. Industry analysts at the International Data Corporation (IDC) anticipate the global memory shortage will “persist well into 2027.” A key driver is the strategic shift by major memory producers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix, who are allocating more of their manufacturing resources and capacity toward producing high-bandwidth memory for the booming artificial intelligence sector, thereby tightening supply for the consumer PC market.
(Source: The Verge)
