Large-capacity microSD cards are now regularly out of stock in Japan as storage crunch claims another victim — high-capacity HDDs are also vanishing

High-capacity microSD cards are facing shortages in Japan as customers turn to them for storage needs, exacerbating the ongoing memory shortage crisis. The demand for storage is high, affecting not only microSD cards but also large-capacity HDDs, which are being quickly bought up, leaving few options at inflated prices. The situation is driven by data centers' need for flash storage, leaving limited stock for consumers. Additionally, DDR5 memory prices are skyrocketing, with reports of significant price increases within a short period. The AI industry is a major factor in the current landscape of storage shortages, with no immediate relief in sight.