USB flash drives, SD cards, and microSD cards have seen significant price increases over the past year. Data shows that many 512GB USB and microSD options now cost roughly two times what they did in 2025. This is true for all, but especially for faster, higher‑capacity models, as reported by PCWorld.
Analysts say the same forces that pushed up RAM and SSD prices have also affected the prices of removable storage. Major memory manufacturers reduced NAND and DRAM production after a significant downturn; once their inventory cleared, they raised contract prices .
At the same time, large cloud and AI customers secured long-term supply agreements at these higher rates . Some top suppliers have hiked NAND pricing by well over 50%, and industry reports show that flash card prices are increasing by double digits each week. Retailers, of course, pass on these costs to customers.
Top-tier SD and microSD cards cost far more than they did at recent lows, and the price increases have been so significant that some capacities or speed grades are hard to find. USB drives and microSD cards also cost more, but shoppers can still spot occasional deals if they watch sales closely or accept slower speeds and lower capacities.
It may take some time for prices to come down because new manufacturing capacity is not keeping up with market demand, and AI is using much of what the industry produces . For now, buyers who need extra storage may have to work higher prices into their budgets or delay their purchases altogether.
