Memory upgrades are very expensive and we need microSD cards back

The impact of artificial intelligence was wider and in the opposite direction than first imagined. AI data centers are eating up memory chips and causing shortages in industry, including consumer devices. We’ve seen products sell out (in the case of the Mac Mini) and even see significant price increases on top of expensive OEM storage options. Having a large on-board memory is actually becoming a luxury feature that not everyone can easily afford.

It’s a problem we’ve been dealing with for a long time, but pretend to ignore the solution right in front of us. A small piece of technology from the forgotten era of the mid-2010s could easily solve all of our problems – yes, I’m talking about microSD cards.

We recently saw perhaps the biggest price increase from Apple in years – basically every device powered by an Apple chip saw a significant increase. Tim Cook attributed this price increase directly to the memory shortage. So it’s not just an Apple problem, it’s gradual becoming an industry-wide problem. And we are beginning to see signs of this; Google now rumor will increase the prices of the Pixel 11 range next month, and there is little reason to doubt that assumption.

And we were no longer paying exorbitant prices for memory upgrades. Big Tech has made it normal to pay $100 (or more!) for a modest 128 or 256GB memory upgrade, while memory expansion costs a fraction of that. We didn’t complain too much, as local onboard storage has serious speed and reliability advantages over microSD cards, including some perks like better IP ratings and simpler motherboard designs. Back then, ditching the card slot had actual, tangible benefits, but because of these price increases, the equation is changing now.

Take the iPhone 17 Pro Max for example. If you opt for its 512GB variant, you’ll be running out $1,400, which is $200 more than the base 256GB model. Even Galaxy S26 Ultra It sees a similar price increase for the 512GB storage option, which starts at $1,500. These upgrade levels are designed to make the companies more money instead of giving users easy upgrade options. These are nothing short of a complete rip-off, as for that $200 difference you could easily buy not one, but two quality 512GB microSD cards – and that’s after the microSD cards themselves have seen a solid price increase.

It’s not just internal NAND prices that have gone up – external memory has been affected just as much, if not worse. Portable SSD prices have doubled, in many cases even tripled. The Samsung T9 portable SSD in the 1TB configuration sold for $100 until last year, but now is listed On Amazon for $250. microSD cards have met a similar fate.

The 512GB microSD card I referenced earlier is the current Lexar Blue expenses about $100. Until late last year, you could get the same card for just $38. In absolute terms, the jump seems small, but it’s still close to a 3x price increase. Even so, expandable memory remains more reliable and cost-effective than what phone manufacturers offer by locking you into their memory upgrade levels.

It’s important to talk about this now because we’re increasing our memory requirements. Not too long ago, there was a time when 128 GB of onboard memory was quite generous. Then it was 256 GB and now I think 512 GB would be enough for the amount of photos and videos I have on my phone. It’s not just local media or offline downloads. Both Android and iOS have started keeping their AI models (yes, it’s always AI to blame one way or another) natively to do things without needing an internet connection. For example, the offline voice dictation tool I’m currently testing on a Mac required a 6GB download – all of which adds up and eats up your available space.

Our storage needs are growing rapidly and so are storage prices. So we need to find a compromise that neither restricts you to limited space nor digs a hole in your pocket. And microSD cards fit this description perfectly.

You might think that card slots have completely disappeared from the face of smartphones, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. A lot Android budget and mid-range phones Samsung, Motorola and OnePlus continue to support memory expansion, allowing you to store up to 2 TB of data in the palm of your hand. MicroSD cards are more common in tablets, even Samsung flagship Galaxy Tab S11 series have a choice. But unfortunately, that’s something you can’t say about flagship smartphones.

High-end phones only come with a microSD card slot if they’re specialized devices like gaming and rugged phones or more creator-focused devices from Sony. All other major flagships make you pay a premium to the OEM.

The idea is not to be forced into a single memory upgrade path, but to have multiple options. There’s no point in being locked into the storage space you chose when you bought the phone with no way to upgrade it as your needs grow. I don’t have to buy a new phone just because I ran out of space.

If onboard storage is completely non-negotiable for me, I can pay the premium regardless of the cost. But when I know I’ll be storing a lot of static data, such as a media archive, a slightly slower but cheaper microSD card would be a smarter choice.

Earlier in the day, ditching the card slot made for a stronger case with few positives and manageable negatives. But now our needs have evolved. 4K videos, native AI models, and software downloads all need space, and requiring more storage shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. That’s why expandable memory is needed more than ever in flagship phones.

I doubt Google and Apple will ever budge, but I have high hopes for Samsung and Motorola, as they have in the past offered the choice we so desperately need today. Given that option, I wouldn’t hold it against them even if they marketed expandable storage as the biggest innovation of 2026. Just give me back my damn microSD card slot!