- LPDDR4 price increases ripple directly into Raspberry Pi retail brands everywhere
- Higher memory densities now dictate who can afford modern Raspberry Pi boards
- Entry-level Raspberry Pi models survive, while mid- and high-end options take hold
Raspberry Pi hardware prices have risen again following a previous adjustment made just weeks before, with the changes directly linked to escalating LPDDR4 memory costs.
The company attributes the increases to competition for manufacturing capacity as large-scale AI infrastructure continues to absorb a growing share of global memory production.
According to statements accompanying the changes, the price of some memory components more than doubled in a single quarter, creating pressure across most current Raspberry Pi platforms.
Which models are affected by the new pricing
The latest increases apply to Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5 boards, as well as the CM4 and CM5 compute modules and Raspberry Pi 500 keyboard computers.
Boards equipped with 2GB of RAM now cost $10 more, while 4GB models increase by $15 and 8GB versions increase by $30. Systems using 16GB of memory see the sharpest change, with prices increasing by $60.
As a result, high-end Raspberry Pi 5 configurations now exceed $200, a level not previously seen within the product range.
Not all devices are affected by the adjustment, as models using lower memory capacities or older standards remain unchanged – so the 1GB versions of the Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5 retain their existing prices, maintaining an entry-level option within the range.
Older boards, such as Raspberry Pi Zero and Raspberry Pi 3, also remain stable, mainly because their LPDDR2 memory is already stored in sufficient quantities.
The Raspberry Pi 400 all-in-one computer also avoids the increase and maintains its previous pricing.
Industry analysts have reported sharp upward revisions in expected DRAM contract prices, driven by rising demand for data centers.
Memory manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing high-bandwidth products for hyperscalers, while standard DRAM and LPDDR capacity is becoming more limited.
Large AI systems now require tens of terabytes of memory per rollout, reducing supply to smaller hardware manufacturers.
This environment provides limited room for the Raspberry Pi to absorb costs without passing them on.
Higher board prices raise questions about affordability for schools, students and casual learners, who have historically been central to the Raspberry Pi ecosystem.
Software communities and Raspberry Pi distros may continue to thrive, but hardware costs increasingly shape who can participate.
Although the company describes the situation as temporary, the timing and scale of the increases suggest that access to training may remain restricted for longer than expected.
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