Buying an SSD has become noticeably more expensive over the past year, as NAND Flash shortages and growing demand have pushed storage prices higher. While the situation is expected to continue for the rest of this year, a new industry report suggests there is finally some good news on the horizon.

According to a new report from TrendForce, the NAND Flash market is expected to remain undersupplied throughout the rest of 2026. However, supply and demand are projected to move closer to balance during 2027, with the biggest improvements expected in the second half of the year. As supply conditions improve, the pressure that has driven SSD price increases should also begin to ease.

When will SSD prices be back to normal?

TrendForce estimates that the market will face roughly a 4-5% supply deficit this year. One of the main reasons is that manufacturers are still struggling to produce enough NAND Flash chips to keep up with demand. At the same time, many memory companies are prioritizing DRAM production, limiting how quickly NAND Flash output can increase.

Even so, more production capacity is on the way. Manufacturers in South Korea, Japan, and the United States are continuing to upgrade existing production lines instead of rapidly building new factories. Meanwhile, Chinese suppliers are expected to significantly expand their output as additional manufacturing equipment comes online.

TrendForce believes China’s share of global NAND Flash production will approach 19% this year, although much of that supply is expected to remain within the domestic market.

Another major factor affecting the market is the growing demand from AI servers. TrendForce expects shipments of next-generation server platforms from AMD and Intel to increase during the second half of 2026, with server shipments rising further throughout 2027. Servers already account for more than 40% of global NAND Flash demand, and continued investment in AI infrastructure is expected to keep that figure high.

On the consumer side, however, the picture looks very different. Demand for smartphones and notebooks continues to weaken as buyers become more cautious about spending on new devices. High component prices, including storage, memory, and processors, have made many products more expensive, causing consumers to delay upgrades. TrendForce expects smartphone production to decline again this year, while notebook shipments are also forecast to fall before seeing only a modest recovery later.

Overall, the report suggests that SSD buyers may finally see some relief after months of rising prices. While shortages are expected to continue through the rest of 2026, increasing production capacity and softer consumer demand should gradually improve the market. If TrendForce’s forecasts prove accurate, SSD prices could begin stabilizing during 2027 as the NAND Flash supply chain moves back toward balance.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.