Last updated: November 3, 2026
Raspberry Pi has raised prices again, barely a month after the last increase. The flagship Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB of RAM now sells for $385, which is more than many mini PCs. Here is what changed, why it keeps happening, and what you should buy instead depending on your project.
The New Raspberry Pi Prices
| Model | New price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 16GB | $385 | +$80 |
| Compute Module 5 16GB Lite (no wireless) | $375 | +$40 |
| Compute Module 5 16GB, 16GB eMMC | $400 | +$40 |
| Compute Module 5 16GB, 32/64GB eMMC, wireless | $415 | +$40 |
| Raspberry Pi 500+ | $410 | Unchanged (for now) |
The 16GB Pi 5 launched at $120 in January 2025. After several rounds of increases in 2026 (boards with 4GB or more in April, 2GB boards in October) it was already around $305 before this latest jump.
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Why Raspberry Pi Prices Keep Rising
The reason is RAM. AI companies and cloud giants are buying memory chips in enormous quantities for data centres, and small hardware makers like Raspberry Pi have little buying power in that market. Raspberry Pi says it hopes to roll the increases back “when memory costs fall once again”, but the outlook is not great: Micron expects the shortage to last until at least 2028, and SK Hynix has mentioned 2030.
Raspberry Pi is not alone. NVIDIA raised Jetson prices by up to 101% in July, and Orange Pi, Radxa, Hardkernel and Banana Pi have also gone up. Pine64 even stopped making its low-cost Linux devices this year.
Do You Really Need 16GB?
Probably not. Raspberry Pi itself suggests buyers think about how much RAM they actually need. A rough guide:
| Project | RAM you need |
|---|---|
| Pi-hole, VPN, small web server | 1 to 2GB |
| Home Assistant, retro gaming, desktop basics | 2 to 4GB |
| Several Docker containers, NAS, media server | 4 to 8GB |
| Heavy Docker stacks, local AI models | 8 to 16GB (consider a mini PC) |
What to Buy Instead
- A smaller Raspberry Pi: the 2GB, 4GB or 8GB Pi 5, or the 3GB Pi 4, handle most home projects. Our Raspberry Pi home server guide and Pi-hole guide work fine on these.
- An ESP32 or Raspberry Pi Pico: for sensors, smart home gadgets and simple automation, a microcontroller costs a few dollars. See our best ESP32 boards and Raspberry Pi vs Arduino guides.
- A mini PC: for a serious home server or local AI, a used or budget mini PC (Intel N100-class and similar) often costs less than a 16GB Pi 5 once you add a case, power supply and storage, and comes with more RAM and an SSD.
- A used Pi: second-hand Pi 4 and Pi 5 boards are still around and often cheaper than new.
Should You Buy Now or Wait?
If you need a Pi for a project today, buy the smallest RAM size that fits, because prices are more likely to go up than down in the next year. If you can wait and do not need much RAM, there is no reason to rush into a 16GB model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB cost now?
From November 2026 the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB costs $385 at approved resellers, up $80. It launched at $120 in January 2025, so it now costs more than three times as much.
Why is the Raspberry Pi getting more expensive?
Memory prices have exploded because AI data centres are buying huge amounts of RAM. Raspberry Pi says it hopes to roll the increases back when memory costs fall, but memory makers like Micron expect the shortage to last until at least 2028.
Did other Raspberry Pi models go up too?
Yes. 16GB Compute Module 5 boards rose by $40 (from $375 for the Lite model). Earlier in 2026, boards with 4GB or more went up in April and the 2GB Pi 4 and Pi 5 went up in October. The Raspberry Pi 500+ is unchanged for now at $410.
Do I need 16GB of RAM on a Raspberry Pi?
Almost never. Pi-hole, Home Assistant, a small web server, retro gaming or a NAS run happily on 2 to 8GB. 16GB only makes sense for heavy Docker stacks or running local AI models, and at $385 a mini PC is usually better value for that.
What is the best alternative to an expensive Raspberry Pi?
For simple sensors and automation, an ESP32 or Raspberry Pi Pico costs a few dollars. For a home server, a used mini PC with an Intel N100 or similar often costs less than a 16GB Pi 5 and includes storage, a case and more RAM.