Compute Module 5 also rises; the Raspberry Pi 500+ is spared despite its own 16GB RAM
Key points
- Raspberry Pi Ltd. has raised the US price of the Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB RAM by $80 to $385, effective 2 November 2026 – the fourth US price change this year.
- 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.
- US retailer Adafruit lists the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB at $350, below the new $385 manufacturer price – a gap the company has not explained.
Raspberry Pi Ltd. raised the US price of the Raspberry Pi 5 with 16GB RAM by $80 to $385 on 2 November. The UK-based 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; the announcement gives dollar prices only, with no mention of shipping or sales tax.
Which models are affected
The increase applies specifically to the 16GB variants: the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB now costs $385, 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 US 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 |
|---|---|---|
| February 2, 2026 | First major round | Pi 4/5 and CM4/5: 2GB +$10, 4GB +$15, 8GB +$30, 16GB +$60 |
| April 2, 2026 | New entry model, further surcharges | Pi 4/5 4GB +$25, 8GB +$50, 16GB +$100; new Pi 4 3GB for $83.75 |
| October 2, 2026 | Entry-model surcharge | Pi 5 2GB: $65 → $77.50; Pi 4 2GB: $55 → $67.50 (+19 to 23%) |
| November 2, 2026 | Current increase | Pi 5 16GB: $305 → $385 (+$80); CM5 16GB: +$40 |
Source: Raspberry Pi Ltd., blog posts of February 2, April 2, October 2 and November 2, 2026 (raspberrypi.com/news). Prices exclude sales tax and shipping.
“The current memory landscape is difficult but ultimately temporary.”
Eben Upton, founder and chief executive of Raspberry Pi Ltd (United Kingdom), blog post of November 2, 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 US buyers actually see at checkout
Raspberry Pi Ltd.’s blog post lists only its own US dollar price, excluding state and local sales tax, which varies by state and typically adds several percent at checkout. A spot check of US retailer listings on November 3, 2026 shows some discrepancy with the new manufacturer price.
Sample check: manufacturer price against retailer price
- Manufacturer price: $385 for the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB, before sales tax, effective November 2, 2026.
- Adafruit: listed at $350 for the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB as of the November 3, 2026 check, below the new manufacturer figure.
A model comparison, not a forecast: it is not independently confirmed whether every US authorized reseller has applied the full $80 increase yet, or whether some listings still reflect pre-November pricing. Buyers should check the current listed price before ordering; sales tax is added separately depending on the buyer’s state.
For schools, university labs and makers buying several boards for AI or home-automation projects, the $80 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 US buyers
- Compare current listings across several US authorized resellers before ordering, since pricing updates don’t appear to have landed everywhere at once.
- Check whether your project genuinely needs 16GB RAM, or whether a smaller, not-yet-repriced variant will do.
- Factor in your state’s sales tax, which is added on top of the manufacturer price shown in the blog post.
- Don’t expect a fixed rollback date – 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) 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-center demand for memory.
Is this the fourth US price change this year?
Yes. After a major round in February and further increases in April and October 2026, the November 2 rise is the fourth price change of the year for Raspberry Pi products.
Does the $385 price include sales tax?
No. Raspberry Pi Ltd.’s blog post states the price before sales tax, which is added separately and varies by US state. Checking a retailer’s listed price before ordering is the only way to see the final cost.
Do you use a Raspberry Pi at home, in school or at work – and how does this latest price increase 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, November 2, 2026
- Raspberry Pi Ltd.: “More memory-driven price rises”, blog post, February 2, 2026
- Raspberry Pi Ltd.: “A new 3GB Raspberry Pi 4 for $83.75, and more memory-driven price increases”, blog post, April 2, 2026
- Adafruit Industries: Raspberry Pi 5 16GB product listing, price check November 3, 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 States. Original image note: AI-assisted editorial graphic built on a licensed stock photo.
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