Why your console costs more

Consoles are more expensive in 2026 because of the RAM shortage: AI data centres are buying so much memory that the DRAM and flash chips inside the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 and Steam Deck now cost far more to make. Microsoft said its console memory and storage costs rose more than 2.5 times. The result in the UK is a set of price rises from 6.1% on the Nintendo Switch 2 to 48.6% on the Xbox Series S 1TB. The PlayStation 5 rose 18.8%, the Xbox Series X rose 34.0% and the Steam Deck OLED 1TB rose 36.9%. Current forecasts do not point to relief before late 2027.

What is causing the 2026 RAM shortage?

The 2026 RAM shortage is caused by memory makers shifting production to AI. Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron make almost all of the world's DRAM, and each has moved wafer capacity towards High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and server DRAM for AI accelerators. HBM uses several times more wafer area per gigabyte than ordinary DRAM, so every AI server built takes capacity away from consumer memory.

• TrendForce reported DRAM industry revenue up 81% quarter on quarter in the first quarter of 2026, driven by a rapid rise in contract prices.
• Counterpoint Research data showed a 32 GB DDR5 module rising from around $94 in late 2025 to $282 in the first quarter of 2026, a threefold jump.
• TrendForce reported consumer DRAM shortages spreading even to old DDR2 parts by mid-2026.

Flash storage, the NAND inside every SSD, followed the same path in 2025 and early 2026, which matters because a modern console carries both 16 GB of fast memory and a 512 GB to 2 TB SSD.

Why does AI demand raise console and PC prices?

AI demand raises console and PC prices because consoles and AI servers compete for the same memory factories, and AI buyers pay more. Cloud companies sign supply deals a year or more ahead, which leaves console makers buying on a tighter spot market.

Consoles are hit hardest. Microsoft said "consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make", so there is no margin to absorb a component that has more than doubled in price. What each company said:

• Microsoft:"console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027."
• Nintendo: President Shuntaro Furukawa attributed the Switch 2 rise to permanent increases in memory component costs, exchange rates and oil prices, with memory the largest factor. The Switch 2 uses 12 GB of LPDDR5X.
• Valve:the Steam Deck OLED rise reflects "the current state of component costs and other global logistical challenges across the industry as a whole". Valve did not name memory directly, but the Steam Deck OLED carries 16 GB of LPDDR5 and up to a 1 TB SSD.
• Sony:the PlayStation Blog notice cited "continued pressures in the global economic landscape". At Sony's May 2026 results, CEO Hiroki Totoki spent much of the call on the memory shortage and said Sony expected to contain its hit to the year's forecast to around 30 billion yen.

PCs follow the same logic with a delay. TrendForce reported in December 2025 that Dell would raise prices by 15% to 20% and Lenovo from January 2026, and laptops with soldered memory, such as the MacBook Air 13-inch M5, lock in whatever memory price the maker paid.

Which devices have gone up in price, and by how much?

Every major console in the UK has gone up in 2026, by an average of 29.5% across the ten models below. Xbox rose the most and Nintendo the least. Compare Electronic's price-rise table lists each maker's UK RRP before and after, the percentage change, and the price to pay today: the Amazon UK price at the time of writing (September 2026) where listed, otherwise the new RRP.

Two patterns stand out. First, the cheapest consoles rose the most in percentage terms: the Xbox Series S 512GB is up 43.3%, because a fixed memory cost is a bigger share of a £300 console than a £700 one. Second, a household buying one PS5 and one Switch 2 now pays £114 more than before the rises (£90 plus £24).

The affected devices at their new prices

PlayStation 5 - still the best value home console

The PlayStation 5 costs £569.00 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), 99p under Sony's £569.99 RRP. It keeps the 4K Blu-ray drive and 1 TB SSD. Sony's CFO Lin Tao said Sony had secured enough memory for its planned PS5 sales, which lowers the risk of a third rise in the near term.

Xbox Series X - the steepest rise

The Xbox Series X costs £669.90 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), against a £669.99 RRP. At that price it costs about £100 more than a disc PS5 with a similar 12.15 teraflop GPU. Game Pass subscribers have the most reason to pay it.

Nintendo Switch 2 - the smallest rise

The Nintendo Switch 2 costs £419.99 at Nintendo's UK RRP, up £24 from £395.99. It is the least affected console of 2026 and still the only hybrid that plays Nintendo's own games, with a 7.9-inch 120 Hz screen and 256 GB of storage.

Steam Deck OLED - handhelds hit hard

The Steam Deck OLED 1TB costs £779 at Valve's UK RRP, up 36.9% from £569. It keeps the 7.4-inch 90 Hz HDR OLED screen and the 50 Wh battery. Any seller asking more than £779 is charging a markup over the RRP.

MacBook Air 13-inch M5 - the laptop to watch

The MacBook Air 13-inch M5 costs £1,187.97 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). Its memory is soldered, so the 16 GB configuration is the sensible floor while memory stays expensive: upgrading later means a new laptop.

Will prices come down in 2027?

Prices are unlikely to come down in 2027, going by every forecast published so far. Nobody forecasts a fall:

• Microsoft expects console memory and storage costs to double again by autumn 2027.
• TrendForce, in July 2026, expected DRAM supply to stay tight in 2027 with server DRAM contract prices rising every quarter through the second half of 2027, though more slowly. It expected NAND flash supply to ease.
• Valve engineers said in July 2026 they did not expect memory prices to fall before the end of 2026.
• Kearney's 2026 analysis put a full recovery in memory supply as far out as 2030.

Easing NAND supply could make SSDs cheaper before memory, but a console price cut needs both. New memory factories are not expected to add meaningful volume until late 2027 or 2028.

How can you avoid paying more?

• Pay the RRP, not a markup. Amazon UK sells the PS5 at £569.00 and the Xbox Series X at £669.90, both at or under RRP. Skip third-party sellers listing above it.
• Buy what you need before the next rise. Microsoft has already signalled more cost pressure into 2027, so waiting carries its own risk.
• Watch Black Friday 2026 bundles. Bundles with a game or extra controller add value without a headline price cut. Our buy now or wait for Black Friday 2026 guide covers the timing, and the PS5 Black Friday deals and Switch 2 Black Friday deals pages track each console.
• Consider certified refurbished. A refurbished console from a UK retailer keeps Consumer Rights Act protection: 30 days to reject a faulty item, and repair or replacement after that.
• Buy more memory up front on laptops. See our best laptop UK 2026 guide for 16 GB picks at every budget.

Verdict

The 2026 RAM shortage is the single biggest reason UK consoles cost more, and it is not ending soon. The PlayStation 5 at £569.00 on Amazon UK is the best value home console after the rises. The Xbox Series X suits Game Pass households despite its 34.0% rise, and the Nintendo Switch 2 rose the least. Buyers who already planned to buy should not wait for 2027 price cuts that no forecast supports.