Sony Halts Memory Card Orders Amid Global Storage Chip Shortage
Sony suspends memory card orders due to the global storage shortage.
Top Summary
- What happened: Sony has temporarily stopped taking orders for several of its memory cards, including CFexpress and SD models.
- Why it matters: The global storage shortage is impacting tech, potentially raising prices and delaying product releases.
- What changes for people: Availability of high-performance memory cards for professional cameras may be limited.
- Who is affected: Professional photographers, videographers, and other users of high-end digital cameras.
Sony Pauses Memory Card Sales
Sony has suspended orders for a range of memory cards, citing the ongoing global storage shortage.
This shortage affects RAM, GPUs, and even game consoles. The company has not set a date for resuming sales, stating they will monitor the situation.
Which Products are Affected?
The suspension, which began on Friday, March 27th, impacts several CFexpress and SD card models.
These cards are designed for high-performance applications, such as professional digital cameras. The announcement was originally made in Japanese.
- CFexpress Type A Memory Card: "CEA-G1920T", "CEA-G960T", "CEA-G480T", "CEA-G240T"
- CFexpress Type B Memory Card: "CEB-G480T", "CEB-G240T"
- SDXC/SDHC memory card: "SF-G256T", "SF-G128T", "SF-G64T", "SF-M512T", "SF-M256T", "SF-M128T", "SF-E256", "SF-E128A", "SF-E64A"
The numbers in the model names indicate the storage capacity of the card, such as 1,920GB for the CEA-G1920T.
Impact on the Tech Industry
The RAM and memory crisis, driven by AI demand, is having widespread effects.
This has already manifested in Steam Deck supply issues and Valve's Steam Machine delays. Valve is still targeting 2026 for the device.
Manufacturing disruptions have also been seen with the RTX 5070 Ti. This could mean delays for the Sony PlayStation 6.
Potential Price Hikes
Nintendo is expected to raise prices on the Switch 2. This is not guaranteed, but considered likely by some industry analysts.
Even though some discontinued cards are still available on Sony's website and elsewhere, supplies are dwindling.
MicroSD Cards Not Affected
The list of suspended products does not include any Sony microSD cards. You can still find and buy them for devices like the Switch 2 and Steam Deck.
This is good news for gamers who rely on these cards for expanded storage.
What to Watch Next
Monitor Sony's official announcements for updates on when memory card orders will resume. Keep an eye on overall tech prices, as the storage shortage could affect various products in the coming months.