September 2026 Memory Market Update: DRAM Prices Remain Firm While NAND Growth Moderates

September  1, 2026 Iris

Latest August 2026 memory market data shows continued upward pressure on DRAM prices while NAND Flash price growth begins to moderate. See what this means for DDR3, DDR4, DDR5 and SSD procurement for POS hardware in Q4 2026.

DRAM Pricing Pressure Continues Ahead of Q4 2026

The latest memory market data released at the end of August suggests that DRAM pricing pressure has not yet ended as the industry approaches the fourth quarter of 2026.

According to TrendForce's August 2026 DRAM Contract Price update, PC DRAM contract prices continued to rise as chipmakers increased quotations and OEM customers built inventory in anticipation of tighter future supply.

TrendForce also noted that quarterly price increases have expanded beyond its previous expectations.

One of the main reasons remains the ongoing shift of manufacturing capacity toward higher-value applications such as server DRAM and HBM. This continues to limit the amount of capacity available for conventional PC and commercial hardware memory products.

DDR3 and DDR4 Remain Important Areas to Watch

For POS terminals, industrial PCs and other commercial hardware, mature DRAM products such as DDR3 and DDR4 remain widely used because of their compatibility and established platforms.

However, mature technology does not necessarily mean lower prices.

TrendForce's latest specialty DRAM analysis indicates that the consumer DRAM market remains undersupplied. Although buyers are increasingly resistant to higher prices, supply remains constrained as manufacturers prioritize server, networking and enterprise applications.

Recent TrendForce pricing data also showed strong increases in several DDR3 and DDR4 contract-price categories during the previous pricing period. For example, DDR4 8GB SO-DIMM average contract pricing increased by approximately 16.8%, while some DDR3 products also recorded double-digit increases.

This means buyers using DDR3 or DDR4 configurations should continue monitoring component costs carefully when planning Q4 orders.

DDR5 Remains Firm but Price Growth Is Becoming More Moderate

DDR5 supply also remains relatively tight, especially as AI and server applications continue consuming a large share of advanced DRAM capacity.

However, high component prices are beginning to limit buyer tolerance.

The market is therefore gradually moving from rapid price increases toward a more moderate upward trend rather than another broad surge across all memory categories.

NAND Flash and SSD Prices Are Showing More Mixed Signals

The situation in NAND Flash is becoming more differentiated.

TrendForce's August NAND Flash report, released on August 31, indicates that supply of mature NAND products remains constrained, but overall price momentum has clearly slowed.

SLC NAND prices are still expected to rise moderately because of limited mature-node capacity and relatively stable automotive and networking demand.

MLC pricing, however, has moved close to flat levels as downstream buyers reach their cost limits. TrendForce expects MLC to gradually shift from high-level consolidation toward price stability.

For mainstream TLC NAND used in many consumer and commercial SSDs, recent spot-market data has also been mixed.

As of late August:

• 128Gb TLC NAND showed upward movement.

• 256Gb TLC NAND also recorded gains.

• 512Gb TLC NAND experienced a small decline.

This suggests that NAND pricing is no longer moving uniformly upward across every capacity and specification.

What Does This Mean for 128GB, 256GB and 512GB M.2 or mSATA SSDs?

For mainstream POS storage such as:

• 128GB M.2 SSD

• 256GB M.2 SSD

• 512GB M.2 SSD

• mSATA SSD

the current outlook is better described as high pricing with continued adjustment risk, rather than another guaranteed sharp increase.

SSD costs depend not only on NAND Flash prices but also on controller supply, brand, capacity, interface and purchase volume.

Compared with DRAM, the upward pressure on mainstream SSD pricing currently appears more moderate.

However, there is still no strong indication that mainstream SSD procurement costs will return quickly to previous low levels.

Q4 2026 Risk Summary

Impact on POS Hardware Procurement

For POS hardware buyers planning orders in Q4 2026, the latest data suggests that memory should currently receive more attention than mainstream SSD storage.

Projects using DDR3 or DDR4 may face a higher risk of component-cost adjustments because supply for mature DRAM products remains structurally constrained.

For projects whose configuration and quantity are already largely determined, we recommend verifying the latest memory and SSD procurement costs again before the final order is confirmed.

This helps ensure that quotations remain as accurate as possible and reduces the risk of later adjustments caused by component-price changes.

In addition to public market information, some of our memory and SSD suppliers have also indicated that component costs may face further adjustments during Q4 2026.

For buyers planning POS terminal, kiosk or Mini PC deployments later this year, confirming specifications and purchasing schedules earlier may therefore help reduce exposure to future cost changes.

Conclusion

DDR3: Price-increase risk remains relatively high as mature production capacity continues to tighten.

DDR4: Supply remains under pressure due to continued capacity allocation toward servers and HBM.

DDR5: Prices remain firm, although the pace of increases is becoming more moderate.

128GB / 256GB / 512GB M.2 and mSATA SSDs: Prices remain elevated, but current NAND market signals suggest more moderate and differentiated movements compared with DRAM.

Q4 buyers should continue monitoring component costs closely and reconfirm memory and SSD pricing before finalizing large-volume orders.

This article is based on publicly available market information from TrendForce and current upstream supply-chain feedback as of September 1, 2026. Actual component prices may vary by brand, specification, capacity, order volume and purchasing date.

References & Further Reading

https://www.trendforce.com/research/download/RP260831UX

https://www.trendforce.com/research/download/RP260831FV

https://www.trendforce.com/research/download/RP260831EM