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| ASUS plans significant price increases for memory products from January 5, 2026. |
A leaked internal memo reveals strategic price adjustments for SSDs and DRAM, with ripple effects expected across PCs, laptops, and graphics cards.
In a move that confirms swirling industry anxieties, ASUS has officially acknowledged impending price increases for its memory products, set to begin January 5—just days before the tech world descends on Las Vegas for CES 2026. The confirmation follows the leak of an internal letter to the company's business partners, painting a picture of a memory market reaching a critical inflection point.
The leaked document, originally published by the tech outlet Videocardz, was confirmed as authentic by ASUS Taiwan. The company clarified it was internal B2B communication not meant for public eyes but did not dispute its contents. According to the memo, the price adjustments will specifically target select SSDs and DRAM (memory) kits, though the exact models and magnitude of the hikes were not detailed.
Industry analysts are reading the timing as highly strategic. By instituting new pricing just ahead of CES, where next-generation products are announced, ASUS is effectively setting new benchmarks for the coming year. "This is a classic move to establish a higher price floor before a major buying cycle," notes one industry insider speaking on background. Rumors within the supply chain suggest this could be the start of a steep climb, with some estimates projecting RAM prices could surge by up to 45% over the course of 2026.
The implications stretch far beyond a single component. Any hardware reliant on DRAM or NAND flash memory—from gaming laptops and prebuilt desktops to high-end graphics cards—faces upward price pressure. In a telling response to the shortage, ASUS is notably extending its support lifecycle for older DDR4 motherboards. This provides a stopgap for consumers, allowing them to opt for the previous-generation memory standard, which, while also seeing increases, remains a more affordable entry point compared to cutting-edge DDR5.
ASUS isn't alone in this adaptation. Other manufacturers are beginning to roll out similar contingency plans. One expected trend for 2026 is a return of more budget and mid-range laptops shipping with just 8 GB of RAM, a configuration many power users had considered obsolete.
For gamers eyeing the next generation of hardware, the cost of VRAM is also in focus. As an example of current market positioning, the ASUS Low-Profile GeForce RTX 5060 with 8 GB of GDDR7 memory is currently listed on Amazon.
The ASUS memo has cast a shadow over the usual excitement of CES, turning the spotlight onto the fragile state of the global memory supply chain. Whether other major players will follow suit with similar announcements at the show is now one of the most pressing questions for attendees. One thing is clear: for anyone planning a PC build or upgrade in 2026, budgeting just got a lot more complicated.
What’s your take on the looming memory price hikes? Will this alter your tech purchasing plans for the year? Let us know in the comments.