{"id":115209,"date":"2026-02-24T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=115209"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:43:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:43:38","slug":"memory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/memory\/","title":{"rendered":"The Memory Squeeze: How AI Is Reshaping the Storage Landscape in 2026 and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As we get deeper into 2026, the global memory market is changing even faster. And that means photographers, filmmakers, and tech consumers might soon feel it every time they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/sd-card-specs-explained\/\">buy an SD card<\/a>, upgrade an SSD, or buy a new laptop or workstation. Driving it all is the explosive growth of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/ai-editing-tools\/\">AI<\/a>, reshaping how memory is made, where it goes, and how much it costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: The Memory Squeeze: How AI Is Reshaping the Storage Landscape in 2026 and Beyond\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/0weW59bhJFTbz8gDj8AA5O?si=110c2651faab445a&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding fuel to the fire is Micron Technology\u2019s recent decision to step back from the consumer memory market after retiring its Crucial brand. Instead, Micron has redirected focus and production to AI data centers, including recently breaking ground on a $100 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in upstate New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Confused or slightly alarmed, especially as \u201cRAMageddon\u201d-type headlines seem to be everywhere? ProGrade Digital Inc.\u2019s Peter Liebmann breaks it all down for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Concentrated Supply Chain Meets an AI Freight Train<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/brands\/Prograde-Digital\">ProGrade<\/a> Channel Account Manager Peter Liebmann is a photo-industry veteran who\u2019s been working with imaging technology since 1988. What he describes isn\u2019t a short-term disruption, but rather a structural reset. \u201cAt the heart of the issue is NAND flash,\u201d he explains, \u201cwhich is the core component used in memory cards, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/l\/Computers\/Drives-comma-SSD-and-Storage\/Internal-SSD-Drives\">SSDs<\/a>, and many enterprise storage systems. While it may feel ubiquitous, NAND flash is produced in only a handful of factories worldwide, most of them located in Southeast Asia. Outside of that region, Micron\u2019s U.S.-based facilities have historically been a rare exception. We don\u2019t have knowledge of Micron\u2019s plant in New York other than what we read in the news. However, the $100B is their commitment over 20 years for an entire complex, not just one fab and not just for flash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reference to NAND flash, Liebman says that \u201cthese same flash wafers go into consumer memory cards and massive enterprise data centers. Right now, almost all output is being pulled into the enterprise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the data centers required to train, run, and scale AI systems consume enormous amounts of storage, and they pay for it differently than retail buyers do. \u201cEnterprise customers pay upfront, in cash, and at scale,\u201d Liebmann explains. \u201cFrom a manufacturer\u2019s perspective, there\u2019s little incentive to divert supply to consumer products when enterprise demand is insatiable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Liebmann uses a simple analogy to describe the change: \u201cIf a single barrel of oil can be sold as either regular or premium gas, manufacturers will always choose the higher-margin option. The same logic applies to flash memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result? Supply is tight, expansion is slow, and AI is first in line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NandFlash-Being-recovered-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a green circuit board with an illuminated yellow LED, representing the active data processing or recovery of a memory module.\" class=\"wp-image-115305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NandFlash-Being-recovered-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NandFlash-Being-recovered-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/NandFlash-Being-recovered.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Prices Are Rising and Why Consumers Didn\u2019t See It Coming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite all this, Liebmann says consumer awareness, as far as he has seen, remains surprisingly low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMost people don\u2019t notice memory prices going up until they need to buy a new card,\u201d Liebmann says. \u201cIn other words, you don\u2019t know the price of a tire until you get a flat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even among photographers, awareness, he says, has lagged. At Imaging USA in early January, Liebmann spoke with many attendees, most of whom he says had no idea that flash prices had started rising earlier this year. He sees the same pattern in a couple of camera Facebook groups he is a member of. \u201cEven in large global communities, the issue barely registers yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">But that might soon be changing.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As of this writing, lower-end products are already disappearing or rising in price, and more increases are expected. As manufacturers face limited access to flash wafers, they\u2019re making strategic decisions about where to allocate that supply. Unsurprisingly, higher-performing, higher-margin products are being prioritized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Quick Primer: Why the Low End Is at Risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To further understand how this affects photographers and videographers, Liebmann says it helps to look specifically at SD cards, which he says dominate the consumer memory market, but not all are created equal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>V90 SD cards<\/strong> are the top performers, built for high-bitrate video, fast burst shooting, and pro workflows\u2014the Porsche of memory cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>V60 cards<\/strong> offer solid performance for video and still applications, but with lower sustained write speeds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>V30 cards have long been<\/strong> the affordable workhorse of the market. They are now increasingly hard to find.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason isn\u2019t performance, it\u2019s economics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The components in lower-end cards are often the same as those in higher-end cards. If supply is limited, manufacturers have no reason to use those for lower-revenue products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>V30 cards are already disappearing, and V60 cards may be next. As prices climb, the gap between mid-range and premium cards compresses. Consumers may suddenly pay nearly the same price for lower-performing cards as higher-performing ones, and most will choose the better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What remains unclear is how elastic demand will be. Will buyers continue purchasing memory at higher prices? Will they buy smaller capacities? Or will some simply delay purchases altogether?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis quarter is going to be a litmus test,\u201d Liebmann admits. \u201cNobody really knows what\u2019s going to happen yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Crucial-memeory-is-no-more-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A person's hand holding a Crucial P5 M.2 NVMe SSD, illustrating a high-performance memory storage component held over an open laptop motherboard.\" class=\"wp-image-115304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Crucial-memeory-is-no-more-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Crucial-memeory-is-no-more-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Crucial-memeory-is-no-more.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It\u2019s Not Just Memory Cards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While SD cards are the most visible casualty, they\u2019re not alone. SSDs are also impacted, especially enterprise and high-capacity models, which saw increases of 10% or more through late 2025. DRAM prices used in laptops and computers have also risen sharply. All three rely on related semiconductor supply chains and face continued pressure from AI-driven demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Liebmann stresses this is a critical point. \u201cThis is not a brand-specific issue. It affects every manufacturer, from long-established consumer brands to specialized players like ProGrade. Companies without their own flash factories are customers waiting for supply. They compete with enterprise buyers who can outspend them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relief Isn&#8217;t Immediate.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re hoping memory prices will settle down anytime soon, 2026 probably isn\u2019t the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe light at the end of the tunnel isn\u2019t 2026,\u201d Liebmann tells me. \u201cIt\u2019s more likely 2027.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s assuming something meaningful changes, i.e., factories successfully shift what they\u2019re producing, or the AI boom cools off in a real way. If it\u2019s the latter, though, memory prices may be the least of our worries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, semiconductor stocks keep climbing, data centers are rising at a breakneck pace, and AI continues to draw investment into everything from energy to construction to tech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving Forward: What Consumers Should Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Liebmann is careful not to frame this as a moment of panic. \u201cWe\u2019re not trying to inspire fear,\u201d he says. \u201cWe just want people to understand what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His advice? \u201cBuy the product suited for the job. High-end cameras demand reliable, high-performance memory. You wouldn\u2019t put cheap tires on a Porsche, and memory is no different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSticker shock is coming for many consumers, and education is the best defense,\u201d Liebmann sums up. \u201cThe more people understand that this is an industry-wide shift, not a pricing gimmick or brand decision, the easier it becomes to navigate what\u2019s ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we get deeper into 2026, the global memory market is changing even faster. And that means photographers, filmmakers, and tech consumers might soon feel it every time they buy an SD card, upgrade an SSD, or buy a new laptop or workstation. Driving it all is the explosive growth of AI, reshaping how memory [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11111173,"featured_media":115303,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17690,17792,17796],"tags":[17305],"class_list":["post-115209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-computers","category-storage","tag-memory-storage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Memory Squeeze: How AI Is Reshaping the Storage Landscape in 2026 and Beyond - Adorama<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Driving it all is the explosive growth of AI, reshaping how memory is made, where it goes, and how much it costs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/memory\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Memory Squeeze: How AI Is Reshaping the Storage Landscape in 2026 and Beyond - Adorama\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Driving it all is the explosive growth of AI, reshaping how memory is made, where it goes, and how much it costs.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/memory\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Adorama\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/adorama\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T15:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-16T17:43:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3d-NAND-Chip.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Daniel Norton\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@adorama\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@adorama\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Daniel Norton\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/memory\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/memory\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Daniel Norton\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d03e80f3ee5e1b86b3f12f10943986b7\"},\"headline\":\"The Memory Squeeze: How AI Is Reshaping the Storage Landscape in 2026 and Beyond\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T15:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-16T17:43:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/memory\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1180,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/memory\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.adorama.com\\\/alc\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/3d-NAND-Chip.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"memory &amp; 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