If you thought rising RAM prices would put a dent in your wallet, memory could be the next technology category to be affected. According to a recent report by Chosun BizMajor flash memory makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are planning cuts to their NAND production in 2026, even as demand for memory continues to grow, particularly from AI and data center customers.
This shift has raised fears that SSD prices, already on an upward trend, could rise even further this year. NAND flash memory is a core component of solid-state drives, USB flash drives and other storage products. Therefore, tighter supplies can impact PCs, tablets and business hardware alike. Analysts say the combination of supply constraints and changing production priorities could reverse years of steady price declines in the consumer storage market.
Why NAND Matters in SSD Prices
At the heart of the problem is a strategic reallocation of production capacity within the storage industry. Samsung and SK Hynix are collectively responsible for more than 60% of global NAND production, so their decisions have an outsized impact on supply. According to the report, Samsung plans to reduce NAND production by 4.5%, while SK Hynix is ​​expected to cut production by 10.5%. The reason is obvious: both companies want to prioritize more profitable memory segments such as DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which are used in AI infrastructure.
This is important because lower NAND availability means fewer SSDs can be produced, making memory supply more scarce for both consumers and businesses. As AI models and data platforms consume enormous amounts of memory and storage capacity, traditional PC and device markets are increasingly competing for a shrinking pool of NAND chips. It is a dynamic that drives prices significantly higher. SSDs, which once seemed like bargains compared to hard drives, could become significantly more expensive depending on capacity and form factor if supply remains limited.
For tech buyers and PC makers, this could come at exactly the wrong time. The storage component of your next build or upgrade could end up costing more than expected, especially for anyone who has gotten used to steady drops in SSD prices in recent years. With both RAM and storage prices rising, building a new gaming PC currently makes less financial sense than it did a year ago.
