If you’ve been planning to upgrade your PC storage recently, you may have noticed that SSD prices are no longer what they used to be. Over the past few months, storage prices have been climbing steadily worldwide, but things have gotten especially bad in Japan, where some SSDs are now selling for absurd prices.

The biggest example is Samsung SSDs. According to a new report, some high-end drives have seen price increases of more than 300%. The flagship 8TB Samsung 9100 Pro, for example, is reportedly being sold for around $3,470 in Japan. For comparison, the same SSD can currently be found in the United States for around $1,960, making the Japanese price roughly 43% higher.

SSD price increases in Japan

And it’s not just the massive 8TB models seeing these increases. The 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro with a heatsink has reportedly jumped to around $1,773, while the 2TB model now costs close to $900. Older and more mainstream models, such as the Samsung 990 Pro, 990 EVO Plus, and even SATA drives like the 870 EVO have also experienced huge price jumps.

One of the most shocking examples is the 4TB Samsung 870 EVO. Earlier this year, it was available for around ¥64,980 in Japan. Now, some stores are selling it for more than ¥314,000, representing an increase of nearly 385%.

The issue is not limited to Samsung either. Kioxia SSDs have also become significantly more expensive, with some Exceria models increasing by around 40% to 60%. At the same time, storage products like USB flash drives and memory cards are also becoming more expensive.

The main reason behind these rising prices is the ongoing AI boom. Companies building AI servers and infrastructure require huge amounts of memory and storage hardware, which is putting pressure on the global supply chain. Manufacturers are reportedly prioritizing AI-related hardware production, leaving fewer resources available for consumer products.

Interestingly, not every SSD brand has increased prices. Some models from Western Digital, sold under the SanDisk branding, have actually seen price cuts in Japan. Certain Crucial and Lexar SSDs have also become slightly cheaper depending on stock levels and model availability.

Still, overall market conditions remain rough for buyers. Many PC builders and gamers are now finding it much more expensive to upgrade their storage, especially if they want larger Gen 5 NVMe SSDs. And unfortunately, analysts believe prices may continue rising as AI demand keeps growing.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

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