An AMD Radeon price increase may land this month, and it would be the fourth one this year. According to Tech Insider, which cites a report from German outlet PC Games Hardware, AMD plans to raise what it charges board partners for Radeon chips and GDDR6 memory kits. AMD hasn’t confirmed any of it.
If the report is right, shelf prices wouldn’t move right away. Here’s what is known, what isn’t, and what to do if you’re about to buy a graphics card.
Here are the key facts at a glance.
- Status: reported, not confirmed by AMD.
- When: “November 2026,” with no exact day given.
- Who pays first: board partners such as ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI and Sapphire. You’d feel it at retail later.
- How much: no percentage reported yet.
- Why: GDDR6 memory is getting more expensive.
Treat this as a heads-up, not a price list.
What the AMD Radeon price increase report actually says
The report says AMD will raise the cost of the bundles it sells to partners. Those bundles pair a Radeon GPU with the GDDR6 memory that goes on the card. Partners then build the finished graphics cards you buy in stores.
No model list came with the November report. The RX 9070 XT is the usual reference point, since it’s the top RX card on AMD’s site. Tech Insider says PC Games Hardware called the coming increase “substantial” but gave no number.
That missing number matters. Until AMD or a partner publishes one, any figure you see online is a guess.
Why Radeon prices keep climbing
Memory is the main driver. Tech Insider says GDDR6 prices rose 8% to 10% in the third quarter, and it points to TrendForce for the reason: suppliers are shifting advanced capacity toward AI products.
In plain terms, AI data centers are soaking up chip supply, and gamers are paying for it. We covered the long-term side of this in our post on why SK Hynix says RAM prices won’t cool soon.
It also helps explain why the hikes keep coming in steps rather than one big jump. Each time memory costs rise, partners pass part of it on, and AMD adjusts again.
The squeeze isn’t limited to graphics cards either. Our look at the Intel PC slowdown shows how component costs are weighing on laptop buyers too.
A year of Radeon price hikes so far
Per Tech Insider’s tally, this would be the fourth Radeon hike of 2026. Earlier steps look like this.
| When | Reported size | What was named |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5% to 10% | No models listed |
| August | At least 10% | RX 9070 XT +20.01%, RX 9060 XT 16GB +16.28%, RX 9060 XT 8GB +12.91%, RX 9070 +7.14% |
| October | About 10% | No models listed |
| November (reported) | Not yet known | No models listed |
These are partner-cost figures from the report, not guaranteed shelf prices. Retailers can absorb some of an increase, or add their own on top.
When you’d see higher GPU prices in stores
PC Games Hardware expects retail prices to follow about three weeks after the cost change, according to Tech Insider. If the hike starts in November, the effect would show up around December.
That timing creates a small window. Cards already sitting in warehouses were bought at the old cost, so some stores may keep current prices for a while. Once new stock arrives, it’s a different story.
Should you buy a Radeon card now or wait?
If you need a card soon, buying before December looks like the safer bet. Prices have only moved one way this year, and a reported increase points the same direction.
If your current card still runs your games fine, there’s no rush. Waiting costs you nothing, and an unconfirmed report is a weak reason to spend a few hundred dollars.
Memory size is worth a second look here. The August notice put the 16GB RX 9060 XT up more than the 8GB version, which fits the idea that memory is the main cost. A bigger card may carry a bigger markup.
Before you buy, run through this short checklist.
- Check the price today and note it, so you can spot any jump.
- Compare the 16GB and 8GB versions of the same card, since memory is the cost driver.
- Watch for holiday sales, which may still beat the new baseline.
The goal is to avoid panic buying while still not missing a good deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has AMD confirmed the Radeon price increase?
No. The report comes from PC Games Hardware by way of Tech Insider, and AMD hasn’t published a statement or a figure.
How much will Radeon cards go up?
Nobody knows yet. The November report gives no percentage, and earlier 2026 hikes ranged from about 5% to 20% depending on the model.
Will Nvidia cards get more expensive too?
Possibly. The same memory squeeze affects the whole market, but this report only covers AMD.
When will higher prices reach stores?
If the hike takes effect in November, retail prices could rise around December, based on the roughly three-week lag the report describes.
The practical take
If you’ve been eyeing a Radeon card, buy it in the next few weeks and don’t wait for a miracle price drop. If your GPU is fine, sit tight and see whether AMD confirms anything. Either way, don’t pay a premium based on one unconfirmed report.
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