Sony Suspends Nearly All Memory Card Orders Amid AI-Driven Chip Shortage

Photographers and videographers face severe storage shortages and 300% price hikes as Sony blames AI infrastructure for memory card production halt.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:51pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D macro illustration of a CFexpress memory card with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the intricate circuitry and connectors, symbolizing the scarcity and high demand for this essential photography and videography hardware.The global semiconductor shortage casts a dark shadow over the future of professional photography and videography, as AI-driven demand for memory chips leaves creatives facing severe storage constraints.Los Angeles Today

Sony has suspended orders for nearly its entire lineup of memory cards, including CFexpress and SD cards, citing a global shortage of semiconductors driven by demand from AI datacenters. This leaves professional photographers and videographers facing severe storage shortages and price hikes of up to 300% as existing retail inventory is depleted.

Why it matters

The memory card shortage represents the hidden cost of AI's rapid growth, as datacenters outbid consumer electronics manufacturers for limited semiconductor supplies. This disrupts critical workflows for creative professionals who rely on high-capacity storage, potentially forcing them to change camera equipment or find workarounds.

The details

Effective March 27, 2026, Sony Japan has suspended orders for CFexpress Type A cards across all major capacities as well as CFexpress Type B models at 240GB and 480GB. Nearly all of Sony's SD card lineup has also been halted. Only the 960GB CFexpress Type B and some entry-level SD cards remain in production. Existing retail inventory will be sold until depleted, but Sony won't restock these products until manufacturing resumes. Memory card prices have already tripled in recent months, and industry analysts forecast DRAM and NAND flash prices to spike 90-95% and 55-60% respectively in the coming quarter.

  • On March 27, 2026, Sony Japan suspended orders for nearly its entire memory card lineup.
  • In the coming quarter, DRAM contract prices are forecast to spike 90-95% and NAND flash prices are expected to jump 55-60%.

The players

Sony

A major Japanese electronics company that manufactures a wide range of consumer and professional camera equipment, including memory cards.

Phison

A Taiwanese semiconductor company that is a leading supplier of memory controllers and is warning that semiconductor shortages could force entire consumer electronics companies to suspend operations in 2026.

SanDisk

A major manufacturer of memory cards and other storage solutions that may benefit from Sony's absence in the market, assuming they can secure their own chip supplies.

Lexar

Another major manufacturer of memory cards and storage solutions that may benefit from Sony's absence in the market, assuming they can secure their own chip supplies.

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What’s next

Industry analysts expect similar memory card production constraints could spread globally if semiconductor supply conditions deteriorate further, potentially forcing other manufacturers to follow Sony's lead.

The takeaway

The memory card shortage highlights the hidden costs of AI's rapid growth, as datacenters outbid consumer electronics manufacturers for limited semiconductor supplies. This disruption to critical workflows for creative professionals underscores the broader impact of the chip shortage on the consumer tech ecosystem.