Motherboards and minicomputers Raspberry Pi are no longer as cheap as they used to beThe organization responsible for the project has confirmed a new round of price increases across almost its entire recent range, a measure that adds to the increases already applied in recent months and that once again hits those who use these boards for education, technology DIY or small professional projects.
The underlying reason is clear: The price of RAM has skyrocketed globallyThe scarcity and rising cost of DRAM, particularly the LPDDR4 used in modern Raspberry Pi boards, have forced the foundation to readjust the recommended retail price. For the Spanish and European markets, where these boards have become a common tool in schools and computer labs, this change will be noticeable in the wallet.
A rise directly linked to memory
The foundation itself speaks openly of a rise “driven by memory”In their most recent statements, they explain that the cost of LPDDR4 chips, integrated into the Raspberry Pi 4, Pi 5, Compute Module 4 and 5 And the 500 series has become sharply more expensive in recent quarters, to the point of making the original prices unfeasible without incurring significant losses.
This increase didn't come out of nowhere: it's part of a context of tension throughout the DRAM industrySince mid-2025, RAM prices have been steadily increasing quarter by quarter. DDR5, found in many modern PCs and servers, is on track to multiply its cost by fivewhile DDR4 It has already tripled in many wholesale contractsThe result is a domino effect that also affects integrated memories such as LPDDR4.
The situation is aggravated by the demand for artificial intelligence infrastructureMajor players in the sector are acquiring a significant portion of the manufacturing capacity to produce high-performance memory, such as the HBM used in GPUs and AI acceleratorsThis leaves less room to produce more conventional DRAM, raising the price of any device that relies on it, from laptops to these tiny circuit boards.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation admits that, in recent months, Some key components have doubled in costAfter an initial round of adjustments, in which they attempted to absorb some of the impact, the pressure on memory has continued to increase. Therefore, they have now opted for a more significant and widespread increase in the power consumption of models with more RAM.
How much does each model increase in price depending on the amount of RAM?
The new pricing scheme is very straightforward: More memory, higher surchargeRaspberry Pi has set a uniform scale for all affected boards, so that price increases are calculated solely based on the installed RAM capacity, both in desktop models and in modules for integrators.
According to data published by the organization, Raspberry Pi with 2GB of RAM now costs $10 more than before, the configurations with 4 GB adds up to $15, the versions of 8 GB adds $30 and the plates with 16 GB of memory becomes $60 more expensive. This same logic applies to the Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 5, Compute Module 4 and 5, as well as the Raspberry Pi 500 and 500+.
If that scale is translated into percentages, the jump is remarkable. In the case of Raspberry Pi 4The foundation details approximate increases of 22,2% for the 2GB version, near to 25% on the 4GB model and around the 35,3% for the 8GB variantFor example, an 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 that used to cost around $85 now costs around $115, while the most basic option has gone from about 45 to approximately 55 dollars.
At Raspberry Pi 5 The situation is even more striking. The estimated increases are of 18,2% for 2 GB, 21,4% for 4 GB, 31,6% for 8 GB and until a 41,4% on the 16GB modelThe latter has been the most affected: the top-of-the-range motherboard has gone from costing around $145 to settle around $205, which implies a cumulative price increase close to 70% if the increases of the last few months are taken into accountFor details on the higher memory variant, you can consult specific information on the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB.
The adjustments are not limited to bare circuit boards. Raspberry Pi 500 and its 500+ version all-in-one computer with integrated keyboard They also receive this increase based on the amount of RAM. In contrast, the previous Raspberry Pi 400 remains on the sidelines of these reviews, retaining their original rate.
Practical example: the evolution of the price of Raspberry Pi 5
To understand the true scope of these reviews, the foundation itself has published tables with the recommended retail price (MSRP) of the Raspberry Pi 5 at different times, from the end of November 2025 to the beginning of 2026. They show how, in just a few weeks, the different variants have been gaining dollars until reaching the current figures.
| Córdoba | MSRP 30.11.2025 |
MSRP 12.01.2025 |
MSRP 02.02.2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 (1 GB) | - | $45 | $45 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (2 GB) | $50 | $55 | $65 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (4 GB) | $60 | $70 | $85 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (8 GB) | $80 | $95 | $125 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (16 GB) | $120 | $145 | $205 |
In practice, that means that The first price increases at the end of 2025 already served as a warning.with moderate price increases of between $5 and $25 depending on the version. The latest revision, however, amplifies this trend, especially in configurations with more RAM, which are precisely the most in-demand for lightweight AI projects, home servers, or more demanding applications.
The organization insists that The base model with 1GB of RAM remains at $45At least for now. This detail is important because it provides a relatively affordable entry point to the ecosystem, although it obviously limits the possibilities for multitasking and running demanding applications.
Which models are going up in price and which ones are not?
The new tariffs don't apply indiscriminately to the entire family. Raspberry Pi has been quite specific in pointing out that the increase affects... Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 5, to the Compute Module 4 and 5 and the Raspberry Pi 500 seriesprovided that the configurations include 2 GB of RAM or moreIn other words, any modern motherboard with at least 2 GB of memory is included in the list of more expensive products.
Conversely, there is a set of devices that, for the time being, retain their original price. Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 with only 1 GB of RAM They continue to be situated around $35 and $45 respectively, without variations from the previous references. The same applies to the Raspberry Pi 400, which is not part of the current round of price increases.
In addition, older models, such as Raspberry Pi Zero, Raspberry Pi 3 and other variants based on LPDDR2 memoryThey also remain stable. The foundation itself explains that has “several years’ worth” of LPDDR2 inventoryTherefore, these products are not being pressured by the same price increases as more modern memories.
In practice, those looking to spend as little as possible still have access to very cheap plates for simple tasks...provided they can do without the features of the latest generations. This gap between new and old models will be especially noticeable in Europe, where many educational and maker projects rely precisely on the 3 and Zero series to reduce costs.
Why LPDDR2 motherboards are spared from the price increase
The key to this difference lies in the type of memory used. Older Raspberry Pis use LPDDR2, a technology now considered obsolete by current industry standards. Since it's not attractive to large data centers or high-end devices, the pressure on its price is much lower.
In contrast, the most recent generations —Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 5, Compute Module 4 and 5 and the 500 range— they depend on LPDDR4, precisely the type of RAM that has become most expensive in recent quarters. The shortage of supply, coupled with the redirection of factories towards high-margin products such as HBM, translates into fewer chips available and much larger bills for manufacturers.
Thanks to that large stock of LPDDR2Raspberry Pi can continue selling the Zero, Series 3, and other older models without needing to raise their prices. It's not an ideal solution for those who need current performance, but it does allow... certain educational and introductory projects remain very affordableThis is especially relevant in countries where the budgets of training centers and associations are limited.
Impact in Spain and the rest of Europe
In the Spanish and European market, where Raspberry Pi has become almost a de facto standard For programming classrooms, educational robots, home automation, and small industrial systems, this price increase significantly complicates the calculations. Official distributors and specialized stores are forced to pass these increases on to the retail price, resulting in more expensive boards for the end user.
To give you an idea, a mid-range configuration that previously cost less than 100 euros can to now approach that barrier or even overcome itDepending on RAM capacity and the markups applied by each store, a difference of 20 or 30 euros per unit can significantly increase the overall budget for educational centers that need to equip entire classrooms.
This increase also changes the balance compared to other solutions. Some Raspberry Pi configurations with 8 or 16 GB of RAM They are now approaching the price of low-power x86 mini PCs or refurbished equipment, or even to alternatives like Orange Pi RVAlthough the latter tend to consume more energy, they can offer more raw power and wider compatibility with operating systems and desktop applications, which pushes many users to reconsider which option is more worthwhile for them.
In the domestic sphere, where projects abound home servers, multimedia systems, home automation, and small test clustersThe impact is also noticeable. Those who planned to expand their installation with several new boards, for example for a Kubernetes cluster or to centralize sensors at home, are now finding themselves with a significantly higher total cost than anticipated at the beginning of the year.
A general trend in the technology sector
Raspberry Pi insists that its case is not an exception, but a reflection of a broader trend in the hardware marketThe increases in the cost of DRAM and NAND memory for storage have already affected all kinds of products: laptops, graphics cards, smartphones, consoles, tablets, televisions and even some connected appliances have seen similar adjustments.
The rise of the Artificial Intelligence As a driver of semiconductor demand, it's behind much of this pressure. Large cloud service providers, as well as companies deploying their own AI data centers, are buying huge volumes of RAM and storage, straining a supply chain that was already under strain from previous years.
Market analyses indicate that The normalization of memory prices could still take several years.Some forecasts suggest that the balance between supply and demand will not fully stabilize until around [date missing]. 2028Meanwhile, manufacturers large and small are being forced to revise their catalogs, and organizations like the Raspberry Pi Foundation are no exception.
Temporary price increase and promise to return to original prices
Since the first round of increases, the foundation has described these reviews as “temporary increases” linked to the behavior of the memory marketIn the statements signed by Eben Upton, co-founder and public face of the project, it is emphasized that the intention is to revert prices to lower levels as soon as the cost of RAM allows.
In this new update, Upton reiterates that The organization wants to reverse these price increases. when the situation improves. The idea is that the boards can once again become as affordable as they were in their early days, respecting the project's original philosophy. However, he also acknowledges that 2026 is shaping up to be a complex yearwith AI monopolizing manufacturing resources and hindering any price reductions in the short term.
For now, the only certainties are the new rates and the warning that Further adjustments cannot be ruled out if DRAM continues to become more expensive.The foundation maintains its promise to reduce prices when feasible, without yet setting a specific date or review schedule.
With this scenario on the table, anyone thinking of acquiring or expanding their Raspberry Pi fleet in Spain or the rest of Europe will have to Refine the budget further and carefully consider which model and how much memory you really need.The latest generation motherboards are now positioned in a price range where they compete with other low-cost alternatives, while models with LPDDR2 and 1 GB versions are consolidating as an economical option for more modest projects until the memory market takes a breather.
