Why RAM and SSD Prices are Skyrocketing in India (The “AI-Tax” Explained)

If you went to a shop recently to buy 8GB of RAM or a 512GB SSD, you probably got a shock.

A year ago, you could get a decent RAM stick for ₹1,500 to ₹2,000. Today, the same thing is selling for ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 in many places. It feels like a scam, but it’s actually a global problem that tech experts are calling the “AI-Tax.”

1. What is the “AI-Tax”?

Companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are building massive “AI Brains” (Data Centers). These brains need a special kind of super-fast memory (called HBM).

The big companies that make RAM—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—realized they can make 10 times more profit selling to AI companies than selling to you. So, they have stopped making as much “normal” RAM and SSDs for our laptops and PCs.

The Result: There is a shortage for regular people like us, and the prices have shot up.

2. The “Crucial” Problem

One of India’s favorite budget brands, Crucial (Micron), has reportedly decided to stop selling to regular customers entirely in 2026. They are moving all their focus to big business clients. This means one of the cheapest and most reliable brands is disappearing from your local computer market.

3. Should You Buy Now or Wait?

This is the question everyone on Reddit and Twitter is asking. Here is the honest truth:

• Don’t Wait for a “Crash”: Experts say prices won’t come down significantly until 2027 or 2028. The low prices of 2023-24 are gone.
• Buy if You NEED It: If your laptop is lagging and you can’t work, buy it now. Prices are expected to rise another 15-20% by the end of 2026.
• Don’t Over-Buy: If you only need 16GB, don’t buy 32GB thinking “it will get even costlier.” Only buy what you need for today.

---

How to Save Money (The GadgetUnder Strategy)

Since online prices on Amazon and Flipkart change every hour, here is how you can still find a deal:

• Go Offline (The “Old Stock” Trick): Many local shops in places like Nehru Place (Delhi), Lamington Road (Mumbai), or SP Road (Bangalore) still have stock they bought 6 months ago. They might sell it to you at the “old” price.
• Check “Tier-2” Cities: Often, shops in smaller cities have slower sales. A small computer shop in a town might still have a 1TB SSD at 2025 prices.
• Avoid “Unknown” Brands: You will see very cheap RAM/SSDs from brands you’ve never heard of. Do not buy them. They often use “rejected” chips that will fail in 3 months, and they have no service centers in India.
• Look for “DDR4” Laptops: If you are buying a new laptop, 2026 is the year of DDR5. But DDR4 is still “good enough” for most students and offices, and the RAM is slightly cheaper.

Final Verdict: The “Cheap Tech” era is on a break. Treat your current laptop with care, clean your RAM slots instead of replacing them, and only upgrade if your livelihood depends on it.

---

Pro Tip for gadgetunder.in Readers

Before you buy any SSD, check if it has DRAM Cache. With prices going up, many brands are removing this to keep prices low. An SSD without DRAM Cache will become very slow after it’s half-full. Always ask the shopkeeper: “Is this a DRAM-less drive?”