{
  "id": 3096979,
  "title": "Amazon hikes hardware prices by 60 percent, blaming memory shortage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/amazon-hikes-hardware-prices-by-60-percent-blaming-memory-shortage",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-24T19:54:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/24/amazon-hikes-hardware-prices-by-60-percent-blaming-memory-shortage/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amazon recently increased the prices of various hardware devices, including Fire TVs, Echos, Kindles, and Eeros, by up to 60 percent. Notably, the price of the Echo Dot, Amazon's most affordable smart speaker, jumped from $49.99 to $79.99 overnight. Price tracking sites, such as CamelCamelCamel, have documented this significant increase, which was previously much lower.\n\nAmazon attributes this price hike to the escalating cost of memory and storage components in its products. The company noted that it had absorbed these cost increases for as long as possible, but it is now adjusting prices across its product range. Amazon also promised to provide occasional promotions to customers over the next year.\n\nThe global memory shortage, driven by the AI boom, is a significant factor behind the rising costs of device production. Consequently, many companies are passing on these increased expenses to their consumers. Apple, too, has raised its prices, attempting to mitigate the impact by introducing a device leasing program, enabling users to pay off their devices over time.\n\nThe RAM shortage is anticipated to persist until the end of 2027, after which prices may stabilize in 2028.",
  "summary": "As the memory shortage continues to cause trouble for hardware makers, Amazon says it is now being forced to pass on the costs to its consumers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Android Authority",
        "title": "I’m quitting Kindle, and Amazon’s new DRM update proves why you should too",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/im-quitting-kindle-and-amazons-new-drm-update-proves-why-you-should",
        "published": "2026-08-22T09:00:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "Amazon just hiked the prices for Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle products by up to 60 percent",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/amazon-just-hiked-the-prices-for-echo-fire-tv-and-kindle-products-by",
        "published": "2026-08-22T13:41:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechSpot",
        "title": "Amazon raises Echo, Kindle, Fire TV, and eero prices by up to 60%, blaming the memory crunch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/amazon-raises-echo-kindle-fire-tv-and-eero-prices-by-up-to-60-blaming",
        "published": "2026-08-24T10:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Android Police",
        "title": "Kindle and Echo prices just jumped 60%. Here's what's actually worth buying now",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/kindle-and-echo-prices-just-jumped-60-heres-whats-actually-worth",
        "published": "2026-08-24T11:42:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tom's Guide",
        "title": "Amazon raised prices on Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle devices — here's how much more you're going to pay",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/amazon-raised-prices-on-echo-fire-tv-and-kindle-devices-heres-how",
        "published": "2026-08-24T20:38:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}