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PCWorld reported Nov. 3 that the Raspberry Pi 5 16GB model was listed at $385 at PiShop US, compared with its $120 launch price in January 2025. Raspberry Pi CEO Ebon Upton said higher memory costs are behind the increases and described the current market as temporary, but gave no timeline for price cuts.
PCWorld reported on Nov. 3 that the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 was listed for $385 at PiShop US, up from its $120 launch price in January 2025. The increase reflects pressure from higher memory costs, according to the report, and puts one of the best-known low-cost single-board computers far above its original price point.
The report also lists the 16GB Compute Module 5 at $375, compared with $335 previously. Other configurations have risen too: PCWorld’s table gives the Raspberry Pi 5 prices of $45 for 1GB, $77.50 for 2GB, $110 for 4GB and $175 for 8GB. These are the prices reported at PiShop US, not a guarantee that every retailer charges the same amount.
The scale of the change is clearest against the 16GB model’s launch price. It debuted in January 2025 at $120; the $385 listing is more than three times that figure. PCWorld also notes that the 4GB Pi 5 launched in 2023 at $60. The report attributes the recent increases largely to memory costs, while noting shortages and scalping that can make boards harder to buy affordably.
According to PCWorld, Raspberry Pi CEO Ebon Upton said the company expects the market conditions to be temporary and hopes to reverse price rises if memory costs fall. The company is also trying to avoid increasing the price of the Pi 500+ keyboard computer, the report says. No firm date for a return to lower prices was provided.
Higher RAM Costs Reshape Pi Pricing
The Raspberry Pi’s appeal has long rested partly on giving hobbyists, educators and developers an inexpensive way to build and test small computing projects. A $385 price for the 16GB Pi 5 changes that calculation for buyers who need the largest memory configuration, and may lead them to consider a lower-capacity board or another platform.
The pricing also matters beyond one model. PCWorld’s figures show increases across several Pi 5 capacities and the Compute Module 5, suggesting that memory supply costs are affecting a broader part of the lineup. For users who rely on multiple boards for classrooms, prototypes or small-scale deployments, higher per-unit prices can add up. The report does not establish how much of the increase will reach every buyer, since retailer pricing and availability can vary.
Shortages and scalping add another complication: the listed price may not reflect what a customer can find in stock elsewhere. Buyers should distinguish the reported retailer price from the manufacturer’s standard pricing and check current listings before budgeting or placing an order.
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From $120 Launch to $385 Listing
The Raspberry Pi 5 arrived in 2023, with its 4GB configuration starting at $60, according to PCWorld. The 16GB version came later, launching in January 2025 at $120. The newer listing is therefore not a like-for-like comparison across the whole product line: it concerns the highest-memory Pi 5 configuration and compares its reported current retailer price with its launch price.
PCWorld connects the jump to higher prices for memory, as demand from data centers puts pressure on supply. It also reports shortages across Raspberry Pi models and the return of scalping. The source material does not provide an independent breakdown of component costs or quantify the share of the retail price attributable to RAM. Its listed prices should be read as a snapshot from PiShop US on the date of the report.
“The current landscape is “ultimately temporary.””
— Raspberry Pi CEO Ebon Upton, as quoted by PCWorld
No Schedule for Price Cuts
It is not clear when, or by how much, Raspberry Pi prices might fall. Upton’s remarks, as reported by PCWorld, make a rollback conditional on memory costs declining; they do not promise that prices will return to earlier levels or specify when that could happen.
The report gives prices from PiShop US, but does not establish whether $385 is a broadly available market price, how long the listing will remain in effect, or what other retailers are charging at the same time. It also does not quantify the effects of stock shortages and scalping on the prices buyers actually pay. The company’s efforts to hold the Pi 500+ price steady are described in the report, but no broader pricing guarantee is provided.
Watch Memory Costs and Listings
For now, buyers will need to check retailer stock and current prices, particularly if they need the 16GB model or a Compute Module 5. The next meaningful change will depend on whether memory costs ease and whether supply improves. Raspberry Pi has not announced a date for another pricing review or a planned return to previous prices.
PCWorld’s report says the company hopes to roll back increases if memory becomes cheaper. Until Raspberry Pi or retailers provide updated figures, the $385 Pi 5 price is a reported listing, not a confirmed long-term price for all sellers.
Key Questions
Which Raspberry Pi 5 is listed for $385?
The price reported by PCWorld is for the 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 at PiShop US. It is a retailer listing, not a universal price confirmed for every seller.
How much did the 16GB Pi 5 cost at launch?
PCWorld says the 16GB model debuted in January 2025 at $120. The $385 listing is more than three times that launch price.
Why have Raspberry Pi prices risen?
PCWorld attributes the increases largely to higher memory costs. The report does not include a detailed component-cost breakdown.
Will Raspberry Pi prices come back down?
CEO Ebon Upton said the company hopes to roll back increases when memory costs fall, according to PCWorld. No timetable or specific future price has been announced.
Are other Raspberry Pi products affected?
PCWorld also reported an increase for the 16GB Compute Module 5, listed at $375, and price rises across several Pi 5 configurations. Prices and availability may differ by retailer.
Source: pcworld.com
