What changed
On November 2, 2026, Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton announced an immediate $80 US list-price increase for the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5, from $305 to $385. The 16GB Compute Module 5 family also increases by $40, with exact prices dependent on configuration. The 16GB Pi 5 launched in January 2025 at $120; its new price is more than three times that amount. Raspberry Pi attributes the increase to limited alternative suppliers for 16GB DRAM alongside other component shortages. The company is holding the 16GB Raspberry Pi 500+ price unchanged for now and says it intends to reverse increases when memory costs fall.
Why it matters
A high-memory Pi is often considered for local inference, edge servers, kiosks, automation, and compact self-hosted systems. At $385 before accessories and local tax, teams should re-run total-cost comparisons against lower-memory boards, older Pis and x86 mini PCs rather than assuming an ARM single-board computer is automatically the cheapest option. This is a specific 16GB memory-density problem, not a blanket price rise for every Raspberry Pi model.
A $265 increase since launch
Raspberry Pi announced the 16GB Pi 5 at $120 in January 2025. After multiple 2026 increases, its price was $305 before the November 2 change; the new $385 list price is $80 higher in one step and $265 above launch, roughly 3.2 times the original. The increase is a manufacturer US list price, not a universal retail price or a claim about all variants.
Compute Module customers face a different increase
The manufacturer says 16GB Compute Module 5 configurations are $40 more expensive. Configuration-specific prices vary; independent reporting places them in a range of roughly $375–$415. Industrial integrators must check their exact module variant, procurement contract and availability rather than treating the Pi 5 board price as their module price.
Memory density, not processor capability, drives the economics
Raspberry Pi cites limited alternatives for high-density DRAM and ongoing component shortages, not a new CPU or feature. It recommends selecting lower-memory variants, using earlier boards where suitable, and optimising application memory. For deployments using 16GB to run local models, databases or multiple containers, reducing memory may impose performance or functionality trade-offs that need measurement.
Price information may be inconsistent during rollout
The official November 2 announcement explicitly states $385, while Raspberry Pi's product landing page still showed $305 when checked on November 3. Buyers should verify the current approved-reseller quotation and the configuration-specific price rather than rely on a stale product-page snippet. Shipping, accessories, taxes and regional pricing add to the total cost.