Why Upgrading Your Device Storage Has Become So Expensive

tier upgrades are hitting price points that break the previous cost-per-gigabyte curve. According to The New York Times, NAND flash pricing has doubled, tripled, and in some categories quintupled over the past year, driven by chip allocation shifts tied to AI infrastructure buildout. The timing is inconvenient for anyone planning a capacity upgrade before the holiday cycle.

The Pricing Delta

The data on two reference SKUs is unambiguous. The Samsung T9 portable SSD (4 TB) traded in the $250–$300 range through 2025; current street pricing sits near $780. The Samsung Pro Plus microSD (512 GB) held below $40 across 2024 and 2025; the same card now lists above $150. Discounts have been thin even during Prime Day, with Wirecutter Deals editor Nathan Burrow noting that current sale prices still exceed last year's everyday MSRP on matching capacities.

The mechanism is supply reallocation. NAND memory and controller silicon are fabricated on the same process lines and in the same fabs as components destined for AI data centers. Hyperscaler demand absorbed inventory that would normally flow into consumer SSDs, microSD cards, and internal laptop storage. Warehoused stockpiles built up for 2025 and early 2026 are now exhausted, and contract pricing reflects the new demand floor.

When Relief Arrives

IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani projects the steepest hike curve to flatten by the end of 2026, with meaningful retail relief not landing until late 2027 once new production capacity comes online. Translation: any near-term purchase is being made against a rising floor, not a falling one. Holding for a discount requires a 12–18 month horizon.

Sizing the Buy

Match the backup drive's capacity to the host device's internal storage at minimum. A laptop or phone carrying 512 GB of internal flash should be paired with a portable SSD of equal or greater capacity; ad hoc file selection saves dollars upfront but creates long-term management overhead. For bulk archives, external hard drives using mechanical platters still deliver lower cost per terabyte than flash and remain the rational choice for multi-terabyte libraries.

For gaming handhelds with constrained internal storage, the original Nintendo Switch can be saturated by two to three large titles such as Fortnite or Apex Legends — a microSD upgrade is mandatory, not optional, at current title sizes. Steam Deck users face the same math.

The Verdict

Buy now only if capacity is operationally constrained today. If a current drive still has headroom through mid-2027, defer. The price ceiling is holding; the floor is not falling.