I'm looking to purchase some SSDs and HDDs for storage and backup, but I've noticed that the online prices are currently inflated by about 50-100%. For instance, a Samsung 990 4TB SSD that I bought last year for $320 is now priced at $600. Similarly, a WD/Seagate 5TB HDD has increased from $100 to $150. I've managed to snag a couple at the previous prices from my local store, but they're out of stock now.
It seems like all brands, including Sandisk and Crucial, have had similar price hikes, and many popular models are unavailable. While the sticker prices haven't changed much, the usual heavy discounts on platforms like Amazon have nearly vanished.
I'm curious whether these price increases are likely to be permanent or if I should hold off for a while. I don't urgently need storage; I just prefer having some extras on hand. If waiting until the end of the year would help me save money, I'm all for it. I'm based in India, so I've converted the prices to USD for reference.
7 Answers
Honestly, it's hard to predict, but I'd say these prices are likely here to stay for a while.
I'm guessing prices will stay high until around 2028 or even 2030. It's surprising how much prices for traditional spinning drives have shot up recently.
It seems that virtually all memory manufacturers are saying not to expect lower prices or improved supply until around 2028 or 2029 at the earliest. So brace yourself for a long wait! Small sales might pop up occasionally, but that's about it.
You might want to consider buying used or refurbished drives. I got some fantastic deals on enterprise-level drives from eBay. Just keep an eye out!
If you're not in a rush, it might be smarter to hold off a bit. Prices may not drop significantly, but they aren’t likely to get better any time soon either. You could check local stores occasionally; I found some good deals at Walmart recently.
Unfortunately, it looks like prices will likely keep rising for at least the next couple of years. The demand is so high, especially after the recent shortages in production.
Totally agree with you!
Most likely, the price increases aren't going anywhere unless there’s a massive market crash. Even Western Digital mentioned their production of high-end drives is already sold out until 2026. The overall supply chain for components is struggling a lot right now.
I managed to snag an 8TB external drive for under $170 there!