Raspberry Pi 5 16GB price rises to $385: what changed
/ Raspberry Pi has raised the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 by $80 to $385, blaming 16GB DRAM shortages. Here's what changed, what's unaffected and what to buy instead.
by Hozefa Khety
· 5 min read
Raspberry Pi has raised the price of the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 by $80, taking the top model of its flagship single-board computer to $385. The increase took effect on Monday, November 2, 2026, and was announced by Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton on the company's official blog.
The 16GB Compute Module 5 boards also went up by $40. The Raspberry Pi 500+ keyboard computer, which also has 16GB of memory, keeps its current price. Here is what changed, why, and what you can buy instead.
What the new Raspberry Pi prices are
The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 now costs $385, up from $305. Every 16GB variant of the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, the small board designed to slot into other products, is $40 more expensive, and Raspberry Pi says the updated figures are listed in the Compute Module 5 product brief.
The Raspberry Pi 500+, a desktop computer built into a mechanical keyboard, is not part of this round. Tom's Hardware lists it at $485, a price it reached in earlier increases. Raspberry Pi says it avoided blanket rises across the whole range and only touched its highest-memory products this time.
Why Raspberry Pi raised the price again
Upton blamed memory. "Unfortunately, a lack of alternative supply for 16GB DRAM, compounded by other ongoing component shortages, means we now need to make further price increases on some of our highest-density products," he wrote. DRAM is the working memory (RAM) chip on the board, and 16GB is the largest amount any Raspberry Pi 5 ships with.
Memory prices have climbed steeply over the past two years as chipmakers shift production toward high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers. Raspberry Pi says it has been qualifying alternative parts to get more flexibility in sourcing, but there is not enough alternative supply at the 16GB size.
How the 16GB Pi 5 got from $120 to $385
The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 launched at $120 in January 2025. According to The Register, Raspberry Pi then added $25 in December 2025, $60 in February 2026 and $100 in April 2026, before this latest $80 rise. That is $265 more than at launch, an increase of about 221 percent, and more than three times the original price.
The cheaper models have not escaped either. About a month ago, the 2GB Raspberry Pi 4 and 2GB Raspberry Pi 5 each went up by $12.50, to $67.50 and $77.50, Tom's Hardware reports. The Verge notes that at $385, the 16GB board now costs close to what you would pay for a complete desktop mini PC.
What Raspberry Pi says buyers should do
Upton's advice is to avoid paying for memory you don't need. "We encourage you to make sure you're not paying for more memory than you need," he wrote, suggesting lower-memory versions of the Pi 5, earlier Raspberry Pi models, or optimising software to use less RAM. Raspberry Pi Official Magazine has published guidance on making the most of memory, and the company's engineers answer questions on the Raspberry Pi forums.
Many common projects, such as retro gaming, home automation hubs, network ad blockers and sensor loggers, run comfortably on 2GB, 4GB or 8GB of memory. The 16GB model mainly makes sense for heavier work like running local AI models, large containers or a full desktop with many browser tabs.
Tom's Hardware also reports that makers are already moving small projects to cheap microcontrollers such as the Raspberry Pi Pico or ESP32 boards, and more demanding jobs to x86 mini PCs.
Watch out for scalpers and fake listings
Raspberry Pi also warned that "a few bad actors" are using the shortage to sell its products at inflated prices or to pass off items that "aren't what they seem." The company says all of its products are available at official prices through its network of Approved Resellers, and it recommends checking its Approved Reseller page if you are unsure about a seller.
Will Raspberry Pi prices come back down?
Raspberry Pi says yes, eventually. "The current memory landscape is difficult but ultimately temporary, and we look forward to rolling back our price increases when memory costs fall once again," Upton wrote. The company has not given a timeline.
That could take a while. The Register points out that Micron has warned memory shortages could last into 2028 or beyond, and other device makers have been raising prices for the same reason.
Top image: close-up of a Raspberry Pi 5 board with the 16GB RAM label. (Image: Raspberry Pi)
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 cost now?
The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 costs $385 from November 2, 2026, after an $80 price increase announced by Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton.
Why did the Raspberry Pi 5 price go up?
Raspberry Pi says a lack of alternative supply for 16GB DRAM memory chips, plus other ongoing component shortages, forced it to raise prices on its highest-memory products.
What was the original price of the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5?
It launched at $120 in January 2025. After several increases it now costs $385, more than three times the launch price.
Did other Raspberry Pi products get more expensive?
Yes. The 16GB Compute Module 5 variants rose by $40 in this round. About a month earlier, the 2GB Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 5 each went up by $12.50.
Did the Raspberry Pi 500+ price change?
No. Raspberry Pi says it is holding the price of the Raspberry Pi 500+ keyboard computer, which also has 16GB of RAM, in this round.
Will Raspberry Pi lower prices again?
Raspberry Pi says it plans to roll back its price increases when memory costs fall, but it has not given a date, and memory shortages may last into 2028.
Which Raspberry Pi should I buy instead?
Raspberry Pi suggests buying a lower-memory Pi 5, an earlier model, or optimising your software. Many projects run fine on 2GB to 8GB of RAM.
Where can I buy a Raspberry Pi at the official price?
Raspberry Pi says its products are sold at official prices through its Approved Resellers, listed on its website, and warns about inflated or fake listings elsewhere.
