Framework Raises DDR5 RAM Prices by 50% Less Than 48 Hours After Criticizing Dell and Apple
The company that, earlier this week, publicly criticized Dell and Apple for their high RAM margins, has now announced a 50% price increase on its memory kits.
In an official statement, Framework justified this decision by citing “significantly higher costs” from its DRAM suppliers, saying it can no longer absorb them entirely.
A 50% Price Increase for Framework Laptop DIY Edition
After presenting itself as a transparent and fair alternative, Framework published a blog post confirming a decision that seemed unthinkable just 48 hours ago. The 50% increase specifically affects DDR5 memory upgrade configurations for the Framework Laptop DIY Edition.
The company clarified that it will not raise prices for preconfigured systems that already include RAM, as those components were purchased at previous rates. The price increase will apply only to new memory module orders and DIY laptop assemblies.
The AI Boom Behind the Price Surge
According to Framework, market pressure is so severe that it cannot offset the rising costs. The company uses a mix of DDR5, LPDDR5X, and GDDR across its products, from laptops to mini PCs, and all of these memory types are currently under extremely tight supply. The main reason, once again, is the artificial intelligence boom, which is draining global DRAM inventories.
To put things into perspective, Framework shared an eye-opening fact: the NVIDIA GB300 rack-scale system includes 17 TB of LPDDR5X memory — enough to equip around one thousand laptops. A single AI data center houses thousands of such racks, meaning the DRAM needed for one facility could instead build about a million laptops.
This shortage puts unbearable pressure on smaller DRAM consumers, such as laptop manufacturers. Framework says it maintains strong relationships with suppliers Micron and ADATA, yet even these partnerships aren’t enough to weather the current RAM crisis.
