Raspberry Pi Announces More Price Hikes, 3 GB Raspberry Pi 4 SKU

Key Takeaways

• DRAM costs rose sevenfold, prompting price hikes
• 4 GB+ Pi 4/5 models up $25‑$100
• New 3 GB Raspberry Pi 4 launches at $83.75
• 16 GB Pi 5 now costs $305, near mini‑PC pricing
• 1‑2 GB SKUs stay unchanged despite DRAM surge

Summary

Raspberry Pi announced another price increase after a seven‑fold rise in LPDDR4 DRAM costs, affecting all 4 GB and larger models of the Pi 4 and Pi 5. Prices for these SKUs will climb between $25 and $100, pushing the 16 GB Pi 5 to $305. Simultaneously, the company introduced a new 3 GB Raspberry Pi 4 model priced at $83.75, while 1 GB and 2 GB variants remain unchanged. The firm pledged to lower prices once DRAM costs subside.

Pulse Analysis

The global shortage of LPDDR4 DRAM has sent memory prices soaring, and Raspberry Pi, the world’s most popular single‑board computer, is feeling the pressure. A seven‑fold increase in DRAM cost has forced the company to adjust its pricing structure, adding $25‑$100 to every 4 GB and larger configuration of the Pi 4 and Pi 5. This move erodes the historically thin margin that made the Pi a go‑to platform for hobbyists, educators, and low‑cost IoT deployments, and it brings the flagship 16 GB Pi 5 into the price range of entry‑level mini PCs.

In response, Raspberry Pi unveiled a 3 GB Pi 4 SKU at $83.75, targeting users who need more memory than the 2 GB model but cannot afford the newly inflated 4 GB version. The mid‑tier offering fills a gap between budget‑friendly education kits and the premium, higher‑performance boards, and it may help retain market share among makers who are price‑sensitive. Competitors such as Orange Pi and various ARM‑based development boards will likely adjust their own pricing strategies, intensifying competition in the low‑cost SBC segment.

For developers and institutions, the price hikes signal a shift in budgeting for projects that rely on Raspberry Pi hardware. While the 1 GB and 2 GB models remain stable, the increased cost of higher‑memory boards could push some users toward alternative platforms or cloud‑based solutions. Raspberry Pi’s promise to reduce prices when DRAM costs fall offers a conditional reassurance, but stakeholders must now factor in component volatility when planning long‑term deployments.