Arduino Uno Q Microcomputer Prices to Increase July 6th Due to Rising Memory Costs

Arduino’s Raspberry Pi-like microcomputer the Uno Q is joining many other devices in getting a price hike this week. The 2GB version of the Uno Q, which is powered by a Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor, will increase in price from $44 to $59, while the 4GB model is getting a slightly steeper increase from $59 to $79. If you’ve been eyeing the Uno Q as a cheaper alternative to Raspberry Pi’s current lineup, you have a little over a week to grab either version at the current price as the increases won’t take effect until July 6th.

In a letter shared through the official Arduino blog, the company’s chief product officer Marcello Majonchi says Arduino’s “memory component costs have more than doubled” over the last six months alone, “fueled by the enduring demand for AI applications.” The company has so far been able to hold off on raising prices “thanks to support from Qualcomm” which purchased Arduino last October, but “with no near-term signs of relief in memory supply or pricing, continuing to absorb these costs is no longer possible.”

Yesterday, Apple raised prices on a wide range of its hardware including MacBooks, iPads, and smart home devices like the HomePod speaker in response to the ongoing memory and storage shortages. Several hours later, Microsoft announced it was raising the prices of Xbox consoles again, with 512GB models getting a $100 increase, and 1TB versions increasing by $150.