PC gamers and system builders may soon face yet another unpleasant price surge, as new reports indicate Samsung could discontinue SATA SSD manufacturing from 2026. This information comes from prominent hardware insider Moore’s Law Is Dead, who claims Samsung might officially declare its withdrawal from the SATA SSD segment as early as January, potentially during CES 2026.
Samsung Likely to Exit SATA SSD Segment
Although SATA SSDs no longer lead in performance, they continue to play a vital role in affordable PC builds, storage expansions, and legacy systems. They are also widely used in mobile and older devices. According to the leak, nearly 20 percent of the best selling SSDs on major e commerce platforms are still SATA based, with Samsung holding a significant market share. Losing such a dominant manufacturer could severely restrict supply. This would likely drive prices higher not only for SATA drives but also for NVMe SSDs, as consumer demand shifts toward alternative options.
What worsens the situation is the suggestion that this would be a genuine production shutdown rather than a rebranding strategy. Reports suggest Samsung may completely stop shipping finished SATA SSDs once current contracts are fulfilled. In other words, the company would not continue selling identical hardware under different names. Such a move could trigger panic purchases among enterprises and system builders that still depend heavily on SATA storage. Market trends indicate this pressure could push prices upward over the next 12 to 18 months.
Micron’s Consumer RAM Exit Intensifies Market Concerns
This SSD development follows Micron’s recent announcement that it is stepping away from its Crucial consumer memory lineup. Like Samsung’s move, this decision is closely tied to the industry’s growing emphasis on AI related products. Micron will still manufacture DRAM chips for partners such as Corsair and G.Skill, but the company has openly stated that consumer memory is no longer a core focus.
Unlike Micron’s shift, Samsung exiting SATA SSD production would remove finished consumer products directly from store shelves, making the impact much more noticeable for everyday PC users. Analysts believe pricing stress could ease around 2027 or 2028, once manufacturers rebalance toward consumer markets. Until then, affordable and widely available storage may become another victim of the AI driven hardware shift.
As Moore’s Law Is Dead explained, Micron’s retreat from Crucial is mostly symbolic, yet it reflects a larger industry pattern where AI demand is overshadowing consumer PC hardware. This reality suggests that building a dream gaming PC, perhaps even to play Clair Obscure Expedition 33, may remain out of reach for some time. At this rate, its sequel might launch before storage prices finally stabilize.
What do you think about Samsung potentially ending SATA SSD production? Do you believe this will significantly affect the PC consumer market? Let us know your opinions in the comments below.
