SSD prices are collapsing consumer budgets in real time. The WD Black SN850X 2TB, which sold for $173 in 2024, now lists at $649. The Samsung 990 Pro 4TB jumped from $320 to nearly $1,000. SanDisk externals took a 200 percent price hike at the Apple Store in March. Sony has suspended orders for its SD and CFexpress cards entirely.

This is the same supply squeeze hitting RAM, now spreading into flash storage. AI infrastructure buildout is consuming NAND and DRAM at a scale that is crowding out consumer-grade components. The shortage is not speculative. It is already on the pricing pages.

The full piece tracks additional affected brands including modular PC hardware, and maps the supply chain pressure driving these numbers. If you are planning a build or a storage upgrade in 2025, read it before you buy anything.

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