Compute Module 5 also rises; UK approved resellers already charge over £300 including VAT for the 16GB board
Key points
- Raspberry Pi Ltd. has raised the US price of the Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB RAM by $80 to $385 – the fourth price change of 2026.
- The 16GB Compute Module 5 rises by $40; the Raspberry Pi 500+, which also has 16GB RAM, stays at its current price according to the manufacturer.
- At RS Components UK, the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB was listed at £338.92 including VAT on 3 November 2026.
Raspberry Pi Ltd. raised the US price of the Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB RAM by $80 to $385 on 2 November. The British manufacturer cites a worldwide shortage of high-capacity memory.
In a blog post, founder and chief executive Eben Upton writes the cause is “a lack of alternative supply for 16GB DRAM, compounded by other ongoing component shortages”. Only products with 16GB of RAM are affected.
Which models are affected
The increase applies specifically to the 16GB variants: the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB now costs $385 in the US, up from $305. The Compute Module 5 16GB carries a $40 surcharge. The Raspberry Pi 500+ is explicitly excluded, even though it also ships with 16GB RAM – the manufacturer says it is keeping that price stable. Smaller memory configurations of the Pi 5 and Pi 4 are not affected by this specific rise, though they were hit by earlier rounds this year.
The fourth price round of the year
For UK buyers, the 2 November announcement is not an isolated event. Raspberry Pi Ltd. has now raised prices on its single-board computers and Compute Modules four times in 2026, each time citing the memory market.
| Date | Reason | Affected models / surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 February 2026 | First major round | Pi 4/5 and CM4/5: 2GB +$10, 4GB +$15, 8GB +$30, 16GB +$60 |
| 2 April 2026 | New entry model, further surcharges | Pi 4/5 4GB +$25, 8GB +$50, 16GB +$100; new Pi 4 3GB for $83.75 |
| 2 October 2026 | Entry-model surcharge | Pi 5 2GB: $65 → $77.50; Pi 4 2GB: $55 → $67.50 (+19 to 23%) |
| 2 November 2026 | Current rise | Pi 5 16GB: $305 → $385 (+$80); CM5 16GB: +$40 |
Source: Raspberry Pi Ltd., blog posts of 2 February, 2 April, 2 October and 2 November 2026 (raspberrypi.com/news). Prices before local taxes and reseller markups.
“The current memory landscape is difficult but ultimately temporary.”
Eben Upton, founder and chief executive of Raspberry Pi Ltd (United Kingdom), blog post of 2 November 2026
Upton says the company will “roll back our price increases when memory costs fall once again”, without naming a date. A similar promise followed the February rise – and three further increases followed anyway.
What UK buyers actually pay
Raspberry Pi Ltd.’s blog post only states US dollar prices excluding tax. For the UK, that is only half the picture, since approved resellers add VAT, logistics and their own margin.
Sample check: manufacturer price against reseller price
- Manufacturer price (US, excl. tax): $385 for the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB.
- RS Components UK: £338.92 including 20% VAT (£282.43 excluding VAT), checked 3 November 2026.
A model comparison, not a forecast: the figures aren’t directly comparable because of different taxes, exchange rates and trade margins. It isn’t clear whether the listed UK price already reflects the full 2 November rise, or whether resellers will adjust further – see the manufacturer’s approved reseller list for other UK options.
For schools, university projects and hobbyists buying several boards for AI or home-automation projects, the $80 US surcharge alone adds roughly $800 before tax on ten units. Anyone who doesn’t strictly need 16GB RAM can still buy the smaller models, which have not been hit by this particular rise.
Temporary or lasting?
Calling the rise temporary is the manufacturer’s own assessment, not an independently confirmed fact. The pattern of 2026 points the other way: the February round was followed by three further increases within nine months. The November blog post gives no date for when, or whether, prices will fall again.
Practical advice for UK buyers
- Compare prices across several UK approved resellers, since the surcharge doesn’t appear to be applied consistently everywhere.
- Check whether your project genuinely needs 16GB RAM, or whether a smaller, not-yet-repriced variant will do.
- Watch stock levels: earlier 2026 price rounds reportedly led to short-term shortages of pre-change units at some resellers.
- Don’t expect a fixed date for a rollback – the manufacturer explicitly gives none.
Frequently asked questions
Which Raspberry Pi models are getting more expensive?
Only the 16GB variants: the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB (now $385 in the US) and the Compute Module 5 16GB ($40 surcharge). The Raspberry Pi 500+, which also has 16GB RAM, stays at its current price according to the manufacturer.
Why is Raspberry Pi Ltd. raising prices?
The company cites a lack of alternative supply for 16GB memory chips, worsened by ongoing shortages of other components. Earlier 2026 rounds were also linked to AI data-centre demand for memory.
Is this the fourth price change this year?
Yes. After a major round in February and further increases in April and October 2026, the 2 November rise is the fourth price change of the year for Raspberry Pi products.
What does the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB cost in the UK?
According to a check at RS Components UK on 3 November 2026, the price was £338.92 including VAT. Since Raspberry Pi Ltd. only states US dollar prices, it is worth comparing several UK approved resellers before buying.
Do you use a Raspberry Pi at home, for study or at work – and how does this latest rise affect your projects? Let us know in the comments.
Sources and status
- Raspberry Pi Ltd.: “Price rises for some 16GB Raspberry Pi products”, blog post, 2 November 2026
- Raspberry Pi Ltd.: “More memory-driven price rises”, blog post, 2 February 2026
- Raspberry Pi Ltd.: “A new 3GB Raspberry Pi 4 for $83.75, and more memory-driven price increases”, blog post, 2 April 2026
- RS Components UK: Raspberry Pi 5 16GB product page, price check 3 November 2026
Transparency note: AI-assisted tools were used in researching, structuring and writing this article. The sources used are listed in the article. Publication takes place only after manual editorial approval. Country edition based on an article from Net Trends, researched for the United Kingdom. Original image note: AI-assisted editorial graphic built on a licensed stock photo.
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