Raspberry Pi has raised the price of its 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 by an additional $80, pushing the cost of the flagship single-board computer to $385. This latest adjustment means the top-tier board now costs more than triple its original $120 launch price from January 2025, moving the hardware far away from its traditional budget-friendly roots.
In a detailed company blog post, CEO Eben Upton confirmed the ongoing increases, attributing the pricing pressure to a lack of alternative supply for 16GB DRAM, which has been severely compounded by wider component shortages. Alongside the flagship board, the 16GB variants of the Compute Module 5 have increased by $40 in the same pricing round. Meanwhile, the Raspberry Pi 500+, a keyboard computer that also features 16GB of RAM, has managed to remain at its existing price point.
Key takeaways
- The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 is now priced at $385, marking a more than threefold increase from its $120 launch price.
- Company CEO Eben Upton blames the hikes on scarce 16GB DRAM supply and wider component shortages.
- Direct sales of the Pi 5 rose 47% in the half, showing strong demand despite climbing hardware prices.
- Memory makers and industry analysts warn that tight supply conditions could persist until 2028 or 2030.
A cumulative memory crisis
The staggering $385 price tag is the result of multiple cumulative adjustments rather than a single sudden jump. Following a December 2025 increase that moved the board to $145, subsequent rounds in February and April added $60 and $100 respectively. An additional November increase bumped the board roughly 26% higher on its own. The April 2026 round also introduced a new 3GB Raspberry Pi 4 to give budget-conscious buyers a middle option, as Upton noted at the time that LPDDR4 memory prices had multiplied sevenfold over the previous year.
Despite these escalating costs, overall demand has not faltered. Direct sales of the Pi 5 rose 47% during the half, and demand for the 8GB variants has continued to grow. However, the pricing structure has created unusual market comparisons. With the 8GB Raspberry Pi 5 currently listing at $175, the extra 8GB on the 16GB model now costs $210—more expensive than an entire 8GB board on its own. Furthermore, the Pi 500+ offers the same processor and memory paired with a 256GB NVMe SSD and a mechanical keyboard for just $25 more than the bare 16GB board.
Industry outlook and buyer advice
While Raspberry Pi continues to qualify additional memory suppliers to widen its sourcing options, the company admits that alternatives remain thinnest at the highest memory densities. Raspberry Pi describes the current squeeze as temporary and intends to roll back price increases once costs eventually fall. However, memory manufacturers offer a much gloomier forecast. Companies like SK Hynix and Micron warn that tight memory supply could persist through 2028 or even 2030, while TrendForce reports that DRAM suppliers continue prioritizing server products over the wider consumer market.
Upton has advised buyers to avoid paying for unneeded memory by choosing lower-density variants, older models, or optimizing applications. He also issued a warning regarding third-party sellers exploiting the shortage by inflating prices or misrepresenting products, urging customers to stick strictly to approved resellers. Entry-level hardware like the 1GB Pi 4 and Pi 5 continue to hold the line at $35 and $45 respectively, keeping basic options accessible while the top of the range transitions into a premium product category by necessity.
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