Why are PS5 SSDs so expensive?
PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro storage, ranked by value on Amazon.co.uk
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PS5 SSDs are expensive in 2026 because of a NAND flash shortage. AI datacentres are buying enormous quantities of flash and memory, which diverts wafer capacity away from consumer NVMe SSDs. Contract NAND prices have multiplied, the squeeze is structural rather than a normal cycle, and it is expected to stay tight into 2027. External hard drives, which use spinning disk, are far less affected.
Our price trend (30-day)
Cheapest £/TB we have tracked, by day. As of 29 August 2026. Over this window the floor price is roughly flat.
What is actually driving prices
The shortage is a supply reallocation, not a demand spike from gamers. Memory makers are steering wafer capacity toward high-margin datacentre and AI products, leaving less for consumer NVMe SSDs, so prices per terabyte have risen across the board, including the M.2 drives the PS5 uses.
Manufacturers have been deliberately cautious about adding new capacity because past gluts crushed their margins. That caution keeps supply tight and is why analysts expect firm prices into 2027 rather than a quick return to the lows of recent years.
What counts as a good deal right now
Treat anything clearly below the prevailing price per terabyte in the live table as a genuine dip. The cheapest compatible 2TB Gen4 drives are the best gauge of the current market floor.
External hard drives for the PS5 are far less affected because they use spinning disk, so if you only need to store and archive PS5 games (not play them), an external drive remains cheap. The live table below shows today's floor so you can judge any listing against the real market.
Should you buy now or wait?
If you need the storage, buy it; waiting mostly risks paying more while the shortage persists and GTA 6 demand builds. If you can wait, time the purchase to a major sales event, where the real discounts cluster, rather than hoping for a broad decline that is unlikely in 2026.
Live prices right now
See the cheapest PS5 SSDs ranked by price per TB ->
Frequently asked questions
Why are PS5 SSDs so expensive right now?
A NAND flash shortage. AI datacentre demand is consuming flash supply and reallocating wafer capacity, leaving less for consumer NVMe SSDs and pushing prices per terabyte up sharply since 2025.
Will the PS5 SSD shortage end?
Not quickly. Manufacturers are cautious about adding capacity, so most expect tight supply and firm prices into 2027 before any meaningful normalisation.
Is it a bad time to buy a PS5 SSD?
It is not a cheap time, but if you need the storage, waiting mostly risks higher prices. Buy on a genuine sales dip and check the live trend before committing.
Are external PS5 drives affected by the shortage?
Far less. The shortage is centred on NAND flash, so internal NVMe SSD prices rose most. External hard drives use spinning disk and have been comparatively stable per terabyte.
Will PS5 SSD prices ever come back down?
A return to prior lows is unlikely while AI demand persists. Expect gradual normalisation only once supply catches up, probably not before late 2027.
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Last updated: 2026-08-29 00:02:50 UTC. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date indicated on Amazon.co.uk and are subject to change. Any price displayed at the time of purchase will apply. CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.