- SSD prices could be on the verge of skyrocketing due to increased NAND flash memory demand
- Pricing for NAND flash has doubled over the last six months
- This is due to the AI boom, with more data centers shifting from hard drives to SSDs
We're fast approaching Black Friday and the holiday season sales in the latter stages of 2025, and for consumers attempting to get their hands on one of the best SSDs, it may be the most important window of opportunity to grab a good price on PC storage that we've witnessed in some time.
As reported by DigiTimes, prices of NAND flash memory (used in SSDs) have doubled over the last six months due to the 'AI boom' according to Phison's CEO Khein-Seng Pua. The growing demand from data centers (shifting away from hard drives to SSDs) means we're looking at potential supply shortages in 2026 and beyond, possibly for several years, the chief executive believes.
It's also worth noting that the prices for TLC 1-terabit NAND (a popular flash memory chip) have increased to $10.70 from $4.80, with similar price hikes across other modules as well, illustrating a significant shift in demand for these storage components.
Phison, which is a major player in providing components for SSDs (controllers, mind you, rather than memory chips), had a 30% year-on-year increase in revenue in the third quarter of 2025, which has been attributed to the increased demand and price of said SSD controllers.
DigiTimes also reported that SanDisk has already increased NAND flash prices by 50% this November, again as a result of increased AI usage and data storage needs, a trend that's been ongoing for months (with the likes of Western Digital).
This all adds up to plenty of evidence to suggest that consumers may feel the impact of price hikes when looking to purchase a new SSD.
Analysis: Black Friday is your best friend, SSD hunters
It therefore looks like there's no better time than now to buy a new SSD, because Black Friday is fortunately upon us this November. And since I've not yet noticed any significant price changes at the consumer level just yet, it's likely better to take advantage of current pricing while you still can, particularly with a Black Friday discount thrown in.
Securing a 4TB SSD has worked wonders for my gaming PC for years now, and while that might seem like overkill for some (especially because they don't come cheap), it's definitely worthwhile. You'll rarely be left worrying about insufficient drive space, and perhaps most importantly, you'll be set for your storage needs for some time, whatever happens with SSD pricing in the future - which looks pretty bleak.
Whether it's an M.2 SSD to slot into your PC's motherboard, or a portable external SSD, there's bound to be plenty of bargains to find leading up to Black Friday and the special day itself, and we'll be here to cover it once the big sale kicks off.
➡️ Read our full guide to the best SSD
1. Best overall:
WD_Black SN8100
2. Best budget:
Orico O7000
3. Best gaming:
SK Hynix Platinum P51
4. Best professional:
Samsung 9100 Pro
5. Best for PS5
Samsung 990 Pro
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