Retroid Pocket 6 Sees Price Hike and 12GB Model Discontinued Due to Worldwide RAM Shortages
The handheld gaming market is feeling the strain of the ongoing global memory shortage, as Retroid has announced a notable update regarding its popular emulation handheld, the Retroid Pocket 6.
The company revealed that rising costs and continuing shortages in both RAM and storage have prompted immediate changes to the device’s pricing and lineup, underscoring how worldwide hardware availability continues to shape the industry. Retroid, known for producing affordable yet capable retro gaming devices, shared the news across its official social media channels.
Effective immediately, the price of the Retroid Pocket 6’s 8GB RAM model will climb by $15, raising the retail cost to $245.
In a statement provided by the company, Retroid attributed this increase directly to the rapidly escalating costs in the global memory market.
"Due to significant changes in the global memory market—including ongoing shortages and sharply rising costs for both RAM and storage—we will be adjusting pricing on the RP6 8GB model.
Beginning Monday, March 2nd, 2026, the price of the 8GB version will increase by $15," the company explained. The announcement further detailed the discontinuation of the 12GB configuration of the Retroid Pocket 6.
Retroid cited that the surging price of memory components has made continued production of the 12GB model no longer viable at a reasonable retail price.
“The recent surge in memory pricing has reached a level that we are unfortunately unable to absorb.
Under the new supplier costs, we cannot continue offering the 12GB configuration at a reasonable price,” stated Retroid.
However, the company assured customers that all existing orders for the 12GB version will be fulfilled at the pre-existing price, with previously placed orders remaining unaffected by the changes. Retroid emphasized its commitment to supporting the community despite these challenges.
"We have worked hard to shield our community from market volatility for as long as possible, but the current conditions leave us no alternative.
We remain committed to delivering the best possible products, at the lowest costs possible," the company added in its announcement. This latest move is not without precedent.
In December 2025, Retroid adjusted the pre-order period for the Retroid Pocket 6, ending it earlier than scheduled amid RAM shortages.
Industry observers have linked these memory constraints to increased demand from artificial intelligence (AI) development and server infrastructure, which has created a ripple effect across numerous technology sectors—including consumer gaming devices like the Retroid Pocket 6 and platforms such as Nintendo Switch. As the handheld and retro gaming sectors continue to surge in popularity, rising hardware costs and supply chain challenges remain a significant concern for both manufacturers and players.
While Retroid’s proactive communication will help keep its user base informed, the company’s experience serves as a testament to how global trends can directly affect even niche segments within the gaming industry. For prospective buyers and fans of the Retroid Pocket 6, these changes highlight the importance of staying alert to industry updates—both for pricing and for product availability—especially in a market where rapid shifts have become the norm.
The company revealed that rising costs and continuing shortages in both RAM and storage have prompted immediate changes to the device’s pricing and lineup, underscoring how worldwide hardware availability continues to shape the industry. Retroid, known for producing affordable yet capable retro gaming devices, shared the news across its official social media channels.
Effective immediately, the price of the Retroid Pocket 6’s 8GB RAM model will climb by $15, raising the retail cost to $245.
In a statement provided by the company, Retroid attributed this increase directly to the rapidly escalating costs in the global memory market.
"Due to significant changes in the global memory market—including ongoing shortages and sharply rising costs for both RAM and storage—we will be adjusting pricing on the RP6 8GB model.
Beginning Monday, March 2nd, 2026, the price of the 8GB version will increase by $15," the company explained. The announcement further detailed the discontinuation of the 12GB configuration of the Retroid Pocket 6.
Retroid cited that the surging price of memory components has made continued production of the 12GB model no longer viable at a reasonable retail price.
“The recent surge in memory pricing has reached a level that we are unfortunately unable to absorb.
Under the new supplier costs, we cannot continue offering the 12GB configuration at a reasonable price,” stated Retroid.
However, the company assured customers that all existing orders for the 12GB version will be fulfilled at the pre-existing price, with previously placed orders remaining unaffected by the changes. Retroid emphasized its commitment to supporting the community despite these challenges.
"We have worked hard to shield our community from market volatility for as long as possible, but the current conditions leave us no alternative.
We remain committed to delivering the best possible products, at the lowest costs possible," the company added in its announcement. This latest move is not without precedent.
In December 2025, Retroid adjusted the pre-order period for the Retroid Pocket 6, ending it earlier than scheduled amid RAM shortages.
Industry observers have linked these memory constraints to increased demand from artificial intelligence (AI) development and server infrastructure, which has created a ripple effect across numerous technology sectors—including consumer gaming devices like the Retroid Pocket 6 and platforms such as Nintendo Switch. As the handheld and retro gaming sectors continue to surge in popularity, rising hardware costs and supply chain challenges remain a significant concern for both manufacturers and players.
While Retroid’s proactive communication will help keep its user base informed, the company’s experience serves as a testament to how global trends can directly affect even niche segments within the gaming industry. For prospective buyers and fans of the Retroid Pocket 6, these changes highlight the importance of staying alert to industry updates—both for pricing and for product availability—especially in a market where rapid shifts have become the norm.
