Tech · Storage

Why Are SSDs So Expensive? Blame AI Data Centers

By Ned · October 11, 2026 · 3 min read

If an SSD feels way pricier than it used to, it is. Samsung’s 1TB 990 Pro launched at $179 in 2022 and now lists at $320, Engadget reported. The biggest reason: AI data centers are buying up the chips SSDs are made of.

Why SSD prices went up: AI data centers

Every SSD is built from NAND flash memory. AI servers need that same flash, in huge enterprise drives that keep their GPUs fed with data. Big cloud companies lock in supply with long-term deals, and most new supply is already committed, leaving little on the open market, research firm TrendForce said on September 30.

You can see it in Micron’s numbers. Its data center SSD sales hit nearly $10 billion last quarter, more than 10 times a year earlier and over two-thirds of its flash revenue, according to the company’s earnings call as reported by Yahoo Finance.

Samsung 990 Pro: launch vs now

Samsung’s list price in US dollars

1TB at launch (2022) $179

1TB now $320

2TB at launch (2022) $309

2TB now $640

Prices as reported by Engadget. Store prices vary.

The chip makers are sold out

Kioxia’s Shunsuke Nakato told Korea’s Digital Daily that the company’s 2026 flash supply is already sold out and he expects that to last through 2027, Tom’s Hardware reported. He also said 1TB drives for around 7,000 yen (about $45) are gone.

Phison CEO Pua Khein-Seng told Digitimes that the price of a common 1-terabit flash chip jumped from $4.80 in July 2025 to $10.70 that November. By June, he said orders were booked into mid-2027.

Sanjay MehrotraCEO, Micron

“In calendar 2027 as well as 2028, we see demand exceeding supply.”

Micron’s fiscal Q4 2026 earnings call, per the transcript

SSD prices are still rising, just slower

TrendForce expects flash contract prices, what makers charge big buyers, to rise another 15–20% this quarter. That’s down from a 70–75% jump in the spring. Enterprise SSDs are the only kind where increases are speeding up, while consumer products see only small bumps.

2026 quarter	Flash contract prices (TrendForce)
Q2 (Apr–Jun)	Up 70–75%
Q3 (Jul–Sep)	Up 10–15%
Q4 (Oct–Dec)	Up 15–20%, forecast

When will SSD prices go down?

Not soon. Micron says new supply is slow to arrive: its new flash plant in Singapore isn’t expected to start output until the second half of 2028. Until then, deals are your best shot. Samsung lists the 2TB 990 Pro at $639.99, but Amazon had it for $389.99 in October, Digital Citizen spotted.

How PC builders are taking it

Not well. TechRadar pointed to one SSD that once sold for as little as $79.99 now costing $400, and asked whether the days of good PC deals are over. For a lot of builders, big storage upgrades are on hold.

My take

If you need an SSD, I wouldn’t hold out for prices to crash. Micron is literally saying 2028.

Kind of wild that AI is the reason storage costs more now than it did in 2022. Watch for deals and don’t pay list price.

FAQ

Why are SSDs so expensive in 2026?

SSDs are made of NAND flash chips, and AI data centers are buying huge amounts of them for enterprise SSDs. Makers like Kioxia say their 2026 supply is sold out, so prices for everyone else went up.

Is AI really the reason SSD prices went up?

It's the main one. Micron says its data center SSD sales are more than 10 times what they were a year ago, and TrendForce says AI server demand is what keeps flash prices rising.

When will SSD prices go down?

Not soon. Micron expects demand to beat supply through 2028, and its new flash plant in Singapore isn't due to start output until the second half of 2028.

Should I buy an SSD now or wait?

If you need one, buy now and watch for deals. Retail prices still swing: Samsung lists the 2TB 990 Pro at $639.99, but Amazon had it at $389.99 in October.

Sources