Is your Raspberry Pi project about to get pricier? Hold that thought! While memory prices are skyrocketing due to the AI boom, Raspberry Pi has just dropped a new budget-friendly option: a 1GB Raspberry Pi 5 for just $45. But there’s more to the story. Let’s dive in.
## The Good News: A New Affordable Option
For tinkerers on a tight budget, this new 1GB model is a welcome addition. It’s the first sub-$50 Raspberry Pi 5, making it accessible for basic projects and educational purposes. This is especially relevant because the prices for other Raspberry Pi boards, including some Pi 4 models, are actually going up. So, if your project doesn’t need a ton of RAM, this could be your golden ticket.
## The Not-So-Good News: Price Hikes Elsewhere
Due to memory shortages and the AI industry’s insatiable appetite for RAM, Raspberry Pi has been forced to increase prices on other models. The 2GB Pi 5 jumps to $55, and the 16GB version now costs $145. Select Raspberry Pi 4 models are also affected. This is because memory costs have climbed drastically throughout 2025.
## Why the Price Fluctuations?
Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton points to the increased demand for memory from AI infrastructure as the primary driver of these price hikes. Researchers warned of potential memory price doubling, and major players like Samsung have already raised prices significantly. Upton assures users that these price increases are temporary and will be reversed once the memory market stabilizes. He also notes that a 1GB Raspberry Pi 4 currently costs the same as a 256MB Raspberry Pi 1 in 2012, at $35. While it’s cold comfort for those needing more memory, the new 1GB model does provide a viable option for basic projects. The AI boom is impacting far more than just server farms, it seems!
