- Leaks suggest that Samsung plans to completely cease production of 2,5-inch SATA SSDs.
- The brand represents about 20% of SATA SSD sales and its exit would put pressure on prices and stock globally.
- A period of scarcity and price increases is expected to last between 9 and 18 months, with the greatest impact starting in 2026.
- Older PCs, business equipment, and users with tight budgets would be the most affected in Spain and Europe.
Solid-state drives have become one of the basic pillars of any PC's performanceAnd in many cases, they are the key to giving a second life to older computers. Replacing a mechanical hard drive with an SSD It can transform a clumsy and slow team into a fairly agile system. When starting Windows, opening programs, searching for files, or loading games, without having to get into the FPS war.
In this context, models that connect via SATA interface have been the for years the a more balanced option for upgrading older equipmentEspecially in Spain and the rest of Europe, where there is still a huge number of PCs and laptops without M.2 slots. However, several leaks suggest that Samsung is reportedly preparing to permanently shut down its SATA SSD line., a movement that This could trigger a new wave of price increases and supply problems. in the storage market.
Leaks point to the end of Samsung SATA SSDs
According to information provided by the YouTube Channel Moore's Law Is Dead, supported by sources in the retail and distribution channel, Samsung plans to end production of its 2,5-inch SATA SSDsThis would not be a simple rebranding or catalog reorganization, but a complete cessation once the already signed supply contracts are fulfilled.
These sources indicate that the official announcement could come in the short term and that the process would be carried out gradually over the next few yearsThe timeline is not finalized, but estimates suggest that by 2026, finding certain Samsung SATA models will be much more difficult, especially the most sought-after drives for upgrading home and business computers.
Tom himself, responsible for Moore's Law Is Dead, emphasizes that we are talking about a real reduction in the supply of finished productsSamsung is not redirecting those NAND chips to other consumer brands, but rather reducing the total volume of SATA SSDs that are released to the market, which marks an important difference compared to other recent moves in the memory industry.
In the specific case of consumer SATA SSDs, brands like the popular 870 EVO series They have been a benchmark for years, including in well-known stores in Spain. This established presence is precisely what makes Samsung's potential discontinuation of this format resonate much more than other catalog adjustments.
A key supplier: close to 20% of the SATA SSD market
The data handled by the sector suggests that Samsung accounts for approximately 20% of global SATA SSD sales on large platforms like Amazon. Its market share is even more significant among users who build PCs while keeping their budgets to a minimum or who want Revitalize old computers without spending a fortune.
In Europe and Spain, where computers with 2,5-inch bays and no PCIe support are still common, these types of drives have been the The simplest way to improve performance without changing machinesWe're talking not only about home PCs, but also small offices, SMEs, industrial systems, mini PCs or NAS devices that depend on the SATA format for compatibility or cost.
The potential disappearance of Samsung's SATA SSDs would not only reduce that 20% direct availability, but could also lead to a domino effect on the rest of the manufacturersFearing stock shortages, distributors, integrators, and end users are likely to bring forward purchases, further straining a market already under pressure from other fronts.
Aside from its sales volume, Samsung is one of the most popular names among those seeking reliability and guarantees, making it likely that The models that remain in stock will experience a price increase as available units run out.
Price increases, panic buying, and a complicated 9-18 month outlook
The sources consulted by Moore's Law Is Dead They agree that, if these plans are confirmed, the market could go through a phase of shortages and inflated prices that would last between 9 and 18 monthsThe peak of the tension would be around 2026, when current contracts are running out and the flow of new Samsung SATA drives is reduced to a minimum.
This scenario aligns with the predictions of veteran analysts in the memory sector, who warn that NAND-based SSDs are clear candidates for becoming more expensive. in parallel with the RAM. In practice, what could happen is a wave of preemptive purchases by PC assemblers, system manufacturers, and companies that still rely on the SATA format.
That “buying panic” This would not only affect the 2,5-inch segment, but could also trigger a surge in demand for other storage solutions, such as M.2 SSDs and external drives. If the market perceives SATA as becoming a scarce commodity, many players may choose to diversify their orders toward any available alternative.
At the same time, some analysts believe that the situation will not last indefinitely. Around 2027, a relief in prices could begin to be noticeable.as manufacturers redirect production back towards general consumption, driven by the arrival of new consoles, local AI-oriented equipment and a more stable demand for home hardware.
A perfect storm: AI, lack of RAM, and pressure on the NAND
This potential shift by Samsung in the SATA SSD market comes amidst a period marked by... memory shortages and sharp price increasesThe rise of artificial intelligence has completely changed the priorities of large foundries and memory chip manufacturers, who are shifting a large part of their production towards data centers and large technology platforms.
That strategy has a direct impact on the retail channel: Consumer PC RAM has more than doubled in just a few monthsAnd some high-end DDR5 modules have been seen on the resale market for exorbitant prices. Given this situation, many experts advise against building a new PC unless absolutely necessary, because the cost of memory can drastically increase the overall budget.
NAND Flash, used in both SSDs and USB drives, It is following a similar path, albeit with some delay.So far, the price increases haven't been too dramatic, but everything points to storage being the next hotspot. The potential withdrawal of such a major player as Samsung from the SATA segment would only accelerate this process.
Meanwhile, laptop manufacturers like Dell and Lenovo have begun to reduce memory configurations in some models To try and maintain competitive prices, something especially noticeable in devices with only 8 GB of RAM. Combined with the progressively higher cost of storage, the result is an increasingly difficult landscape for those who want to upgrade their device without spending a fortune.
Why the Samsung SATA case is more worrying than the end of Crucial RAM
In recent months we have already seen striking decisions such as the withdrawal of the Crucial brand of the consumer RAM market by Micron. However, many analysts believe that this move was primarily a change in business strategy, with a limited impact on the actual supply of memory modules.
Micron, like other major manufacturers, continues to sell DRAM chips to third parties These chips are then integrated into modules from brands like G.Skill, ADATA, and others with a strong presence in the Spanish market. In other words, a logo disappears from the shelves, but the chips continue to reach the end user through different labels.
In the case of Samsung and SATA SSDs, leaks point to a different approach: It would not be a matter of renaming products or diverting the same NAND to other consumer rangesbut to put an end to an entire family of finished units, both for the domestic user and for the professional environment.
This implies that the number of SATA SSDs available on the market would be tangibly reduced, not just in terms of brand presence. For those who rely on this interface for compatibility or budget reasons, the loss of a top-tier supplier This can translate into less variety, less stock, and less competitive prices.
Hence, some experts believe that Samsung's hypothetical farewell to SATA could have a more severe impact than the case of the Crucial RAM, although at first glance it may seem like a minor change to the general public.
Consequences for older PCs, SMEs, and users on a tight budget
The most immediate blow would be suffered by devices that only support 2,5-inch drivesWe're talking about desktops and laptops that are a few years old, but also workstations, industrial systems, mini PCs and NAS devices that rely on SATA SSDs for their daily operation due to their reliability and cost.
In Spain and Europe, there are many small businesses and self-employed individuals who extend the life of their equipment beyond the usual renewal cycles. For this profile, Upgrading an old HDD to a SATA SSD is, to this day, the most cost-effective upgrade. to keep going for a few more years without changing machines. The disappearance of part of the supply, and a possible increase in the price of the rest, complicates that strategy considerably.
Home users who gradually upgrade their systems, buying an SSD when a good deal appears or opting for modest capacities like 500GB or 1TB for general use, would also be affected. Prices seen in some stores already indicate some price pressure. Models like the 1TB Samsung 870 EVO have been seen for over 120 euros in Spanish stores., and even by much higher figures in other European distributors.
In the 500GB segment, where more reasonable rates can still be found, it is becoming common to turn to specialized stores in other EU countries, such as some well-known ones in Germany, in search of Prices are somewhat lower for branded SATA drives.If this trend intensifies, we are likely to see significant differences between markets again, with users increasingly comparing and buying within the European market to avoid local price spikes.
On the other hand, those who already have enough storage and memory for their daily tasks could opt for a more prudent strategy: stick with the current hardware and wait for the market to stabilizeavoiding entering the spiral of impulsive purchases that usually accentuates price increases.
Does it make sense to get ahead of the game and buy a Samsung SATA SSD now?
It's easy to become alarmist when faced with these kinds of leaks, but it's important to separate noise from useful information. The first question many users are asking is whether Is it worth buying a Samsung SATA SSD now? before the potential shortage is reflected in prices.
From a practical perspective, the answer depends heavily on individual circumstances. If you have a PC or laptop without an M.2 slot, with an aging HDD, and you need reliability for work, study, or occasional gaming, Bringing the purchase forward may be reasonableespecially if you find an offer that isn't too far off from what these units cost a few months ago.
If, on the other hand, your computer already has a working SSD and you don't have an immediate need for more storage capacity, Forcing a purchase just "just in case" might not be the best ideaAnalysts point out that these market tensions tend to move in cycles, and that in the medium term, competitive alternatives from other manufacturers or even more affordable technologies may emerge.
Another relevant issue is the possibility of opt for more modern formats like NVMe when the equipment allows itMany relatively recent motherboards have both M.2 slots and SATA ports, and in those cases it may make more sense to opt for a PCIe SSD, which often offers a better price-performance ratio. leaving SATA for secondary storage or for recycling older equipment from the family or professional environment.
While Samsung remains officially silent, the sector is navigating a landscape of some uncertainty, but with a fairly clear underlying message: Cheap and abundant SATA-based storage is no longer guaranteed.In the coming years, both home users and businesses in Spain and the rest of Europe will have to to refine their purchasing decisions much more, to assess what they really need and whenand get used to a market where major brands are increasingly prioritizing higher-profit segments, such as AI and data centers, over the classic PC of yesteryear.
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