16GB Raspberry Pi 5 Price Jumps to $385 as Memory Costs Rise

The 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 now costs $385, an $80 increase that puts its price more than three times above its $120 launch price. The same pricing pressure is reaching the 16GB Compute Module 5, while Raspberry Pi is holding the price of its 16GB Raspberry Pi 500+ at $485 for now. For buyers, the practical question is whether a project needs 16GB of memory enough to justify a sharp step up in cost.

Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton attributed the increases to steep memory cost rises over the past two years. He said the company has tried to limit how much of that cost it passes on, and pointed to similar decisions by other computer makers. The new prices take effect immediately: the 16GB Pi 5 rises by $80, and the 16GB Compute Module 5 (CM5) by $40.

Price changes across the 16GB range

The table shows how far pricing has moved from launch across these models. The Pi 5 has climbed from $120 to $385, while the CM5 has gone from $135 to $425. The 16GB Pi 500+ remains at $485, but that unchanged price still places it above both products. These figures describe the listed models; a buyer comparing systems should also consider what each form factor includes and what the project actually needs.

Memory capacity now has a visible price tag

Recent increases on lower-memory models make the gap especially clear. A month earlier, Raspberry Pi raised the prices of the 2GB Raspberry Pi 4 and 2GB Raspberry Pi 5 by $12.50, taking them to $67.50 and $77.50, respectively. The 1GB devices haven’t had recent increases, according to the source article.

That comparison puts the 2GB Pi 5 at $77.50 and the 16GB model at $385. The source points to memory pricing as a major factor behind the difference. For a project that doesn’t need large working sets, extra capacity may add cost without delivering a corresponding practical benefit. Raspberry Pi’s own guidance is to avoid paying for more memory than a workload requires.

That advice depends on how the board will be used. A small, focused build may fit comfortably within a lower-memory model, while projects that keep more data or services active may have a reason to choose more RAM. The source doesn’t provide workload benchmarks or a detailed comparison of performance across memory tiers, so buyers should treat capacity as a project requirement rather than assume the largest configuration will make every task faster.

Raspberry Pi’s position between cheaper and faster boards

Higher prices may put pressure on a product line long associated with tight budgets. Earlier Raspberry Pi generations famously targeted prices around $25 to $35. At $385, the 16GB Pi 5 sits in a different buying conversation: cost-conscious makers may compare it with simpler boards for basic control tasks, or with small computers that offer a broader software and hardware platform.

For small projects, Pico and ESP32 boards are increasingly popular alternatives. They serve a different role from a full Raspberry Pi, but can suit builds that need a microcontroller rather than a general-purpose computer. At the other end, entry-level x86 single-board computers and mini PCs become easier to consider as Raspberry Pi prices rise. The source notes that mini PCs can offer stronger CPUs, GPUs and NPUs, along with flexibility, expandability and support for widely used operating systems and applications.

Those comparisons don’t make the products interchangeable. A project’s existing software, physical layout, power needs and interfaces can all affect the cost of switching. A Raspberry Pi board may still fit a build that depends on its form factor or established ecosystem; a microcontroller or mini PC may make more sense when the workload points in that direction. The right comparison is the total fit for the job, not memory capacity alone.

What buyers should watch

The immediate change is clear, but the next pricing decision will depend in part on whether memory costs continue to affect computer makers. Raspberry Pi has already raised prices across both high- and lower-memory products, and the contrast between 2GB and 16GB models gives buyers a concrete reason to revisit their specifications before ordering.

For new builds, check the software and workload against the memory tier before settling on a board. For existing designs, reassess whether the 16GB configuration is essential and compare the alternatives against compatibility and migration effort. The 16GB Pi 500+ price is unchanged today, but at $485 it remains a costly option. As memory prices shape more of the product’s final cost, Raspberry Pi’s appeal will increasingly depend on how much its specific board and ecosystem are worth to each project.