Raspberry Pi raises 16GB model prices as DRAM costs climb

Raspberry Pi announced on 2 November 2026 that it is raising prices on specific high-density products due to rising memory costs. The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 will now cost $385, while the 16GB Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 variants will see a $40 price hike. If you already own a 16GB model, none of this changes your next purchase.

Raspberry Pi 5 (16GB) and Compute Module 5 price increases

The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 now retails for $385, representing an $80 increase from previous pricing. Raspberry Pi confirmed that the 16GB Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 variants are also increasing in price by $40. These changes are targeted specifically at the highest-density models to account for recent shifts in the global component market.

High-density—components with a high amount of memory (high capacity) in a small area—variants are currently the most expensive to produce. Raspberry Pi stated that these increases are unavoidable but will remain selective rather than being applied across the entire product line.

Why the 16GB DRAM shortage drove costs up

The price hike stems from a lack of alternative supply for 16GB DRAM, which has seen steep cost rises over the last two years. Raspberry Pi said that ongoing component shortages have forced these adjustments on their most memory-intensive products. To maintain flexibility, the company is actively qualifying alternative parts—the process of finding different parts that work—to diversify their sourcing options.

Does the shortage affect all models?

Does the shortage affect all models? Raspberry Pi avoided blanket price increases, focusing only on those products most impacted by the DRAM landscape. The company expects the current memory situation to be temporary and looks forward to rolling back prices once costs stabilize.

Why the Raspberry Pi 500+ avoided price hikes

The Raspberry Pi 500+ remains at its current price despite featuring 16GB of RAM. This is a surprising move given the price hikes on other 16GB models. Raspberry Pi noted that the 500+ is a premium all-in-one desktop computer built into a mechanical keyboard.

Premium all-in-one form factors

Premium all-in-one form factors can maintain price stability even with high-spec memory. This distinction allows the 500+ to stay at its current price point while the standalone Raspberry Pi 5 and Compute Module 5 see increases. The market for high-capacity components remains volatile, but the 500+ sits in a different pricing bracket.

How much does the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 cost now?

The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 costs $385 as of 2 November 2026. Raspberry Pi announced this specific price point to reflect the current costs of 16GB DRAM. Users looking for the highest-density variant must now account for this $80 increase in their budget.

How to avoid high Raspberry Pi memory costs

Avoiding high Raspberry Pi memory costs involves integrating lower-density variants, using earlier Raspberry Pi models, or performing memory optimisation—techniques to reduce the amount of RAM a program requires (using less RAM). Raspberry Pi suggests that users ensure they are not paying for more memory than their specific use case requires.

Software engineers can utilize memory optimisation to reduce hardware requirements. Raspberry Pi points to the Official Magazine for guidance on maximizing memory efficiency. For those needing a different hardware path, the Orange Pi 5 serves as a competing single-board computer to the Raspberry Pi 5.

Who this is for: Embedded systems developers

Embedded systems developers who need to update the Bill of Materials (BOM) should note the new $385 price point for 16GB models. (Bill of Materials (BOM): a comprehensive list of raw materials, components, and assemblies needed to manufacture a finished product.) These developers can choose to use lower-density variants or earlier Raspberry Pi models to keep costs down. By switching to a model with less RAM, they can avoid the $80 hike entirely.

Hobbyist builders who want to know if the 16GB model is still a good value can see that the 500+ provides a stable price point. These builders might check their fiscal year budget to see if the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 fits their requirements. If it doesn’t, they might opt for a lower-density variant.

Industrial hardware integrators

Industrial hardware integrators who need to source parts reliably at official prices should use the Approved Reseller page to avoid inflated prices from bad actors. These integrators must update any pending purchase orders to reflect the new $385 price for the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5. They should also monitor the stock level report to ensure supply stability.

Software engineers who can reduce hardware costs by optimizing code should focus on memory optimisation. By making their applications more efficient, they can potentially downgrade the hardware requirements of their projects. This allows them to use lower-cost variants while maintaining performance.

Walkthrough of a hardware budget adjustment

Zara runs a small firm and is designing a multi-user edge computing node that initially planned to use the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5. (edge computing node: a computing device that processes data near the source of the information rather than in a central cloud.) Zara sees the price has increased by $80 to $385. He checks if his application can run on 8GB and determines that with some memory optimisation, 8GB is sufficient. Zara switches to the 8GB variant, avoiding the $385 price point and saving his project’s budget.

If Zara’s application required 16GB for high-density tasks, he would have to accept the $385 price point or look for a way to optimize the app’s memory footprint. This holds while the 16GB upgrade costs $80; the calculation reverses if memory costs fall before his purchase.

Practical applications for memory-efficient hardware

What this replaces: High-cost 16GB hardware requirements

High-cost 16GB hardware requirements are replaced by the need for lower-density variants or memory optimisation. By choosing these alternatives, users avoid the $80 price hike on the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5. This allows projects to proceed with more cost-effective hardware while maintaining the necessary functionality.

What is not yet known: Raspberry Pi did not say when the price increases

Raspberry Pi did not say when the price increases will be rolled back. The company also did not state the price for all other configurations. Furthermore, the specific date for the stabilization of the memory landscape remains unconfirmed.

Key terms

high-density

refers to components with a high amount of memory or data storage in a small area (high capacity)

memory optimisation

techniques to reduce the amount of RAM a program or system requires (using less RAM)

qualifying alternative parts

the process of testing and certifying different components to ensure they work as intended (finding different parts that work)

This analysis is based on Raspberry Pi’s Price rises for some 16GB Raspberry Pi products.