You now have to pay hundreds of dollars more for an external hard drive because AI firms want to build more data centers.
Thanks to the rapid expansion of AI data centers worldwide, electronic devices have become more expensive in recent months. Memory chip manufacturers have prioritized the needs of AI companies, leaving a significant gap in the consumer market that could take years to fill. External hard drives are among the latest products to see sharp price increases.
According to a new Bloomberg report, after raising the prices of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro earlier this month to offset the ongoing memory chip shortage, Apple is now increasing the cost of external hard drives on its website and in its retail stores. As a result, a SanDisk 4-terabyte external drive that cost $500 just a few months ago now sells for nearly $1,200. The price of the 1-terabyte version has also jumped from $120 to $360.
SanDisk external drives are not the only products affected; other manufacturers have raised their prices as well. It’s also important to note that these prices are set by vendors, not by Apple itself.
However, the issue is not just the pricing. Finding an external hard drive on Apple’s website has become nearly impossible, as most models are sold out. These devices are essential tools for graphic designers, video editors, and many other professionals. “The customers seeing the higher prices are mostly ones shopping at physical locations, where there’s still stock available. A look at Best Buy, Amazon, and other online retailers shows a similar story,” Bloomberg added.
Laptops, PCs, tablets, smartphones, and now external hard drives are all being impacted by the growing demand for memory chips driven by AI data centers. HP reports that memory and storage now account for roughly 35 percent of a PC’s bill of materials, up from 15 to 18 percent. Yet, there is no clear horizon for resolving this supply gap in the consumer electronics market.
