Sony has halted production of nearly its entire memory card lineup due to a global memory card shortage, suspending orders for photographers and content creators worldwide starting March 27, 2026. The move marks the first time a major manufacturer has stopped accepting orders outright rather than simply raising prices, signaling how severe the semiconductor crisis has become.
Key Takeaways
- Sony suspended orders for CFexpress Type A and most Type B cards, plus premium SD card series, with no resumption date announced
- Global memory card shortage driven by AI data center demand has tripled prices across the industry
- Existing retail stock remains available until depleted, but Sony will not restock until supply improves
- Sony is the first major player to halt orders entirely; competitors like SanDisk have raised prices instead
- Suspension currently applies to Japan orders, but the shortage affects global supply chains
Why Sony Stopped Taking Orders
The memory card shortage stems from a global shortage of semiconductors and NAND flash memory, driven largely by explosive demand from AI data centers competing for the same manufacturing capacity. Memory card prices have roughly tripled in recent months as supply has failed to keep pace with demand across all storage tiers—from budget 64GB SD cards to professional 1.92TB CFexpress cards. Sony announced the suspension with little warning, stating that supply will not meet demand for the foreseeable future and that resumption would be announced separately once conditions improve.
What makes Sony’s decision unusual is the breadth of the halt. The suspension affects nearly the entire product line: all CFexpress Type A models (240GB, 480GB, 960GB, and 1.92TB), most CFexpress Type B cards, and premium SD card series including the TOUGH line and SF-M series. Even budget V30-rated SD cards in 64GB and 128GB capacities are affected, showing that the shortage impacts all production tiers equally. Only the 960GB CFexpress Type B card and discontinued SF-UZ SD series remain unaffected.
What This Means for Photographers Right Now
The immediate impact is straightforward: photographers cannot order new Sony memory cards from authorized dealers or the Sony Store in Japan, and no restocking will occur until production resumes. Existing retail inventory—such as stock at B&H Photo in the United States—remains available until depleted, but once those supplies sell through, no new fulfillment from Sony will follow. This creates a window where photographers must either buy from remaining retail stock or turn to competitors, all while prices remain inflated due to the global shortage.
For professionals who rely on CFexpress Type B cards for high-speed recording on Sony cameras like the FX30 or FX3, the suspension is particularly acute. These cards are essential for 4K video work, and the shortage means photographers may need to switch to competitor products or stockpile cards now while available. The timing is especially painful because Sony announced the card suspension the same day it raised PS5 prices up to 100 dollars worldwide, signaling broader cost pressures across the company.
How This Compares to Competitors
SanDisk and other competitors have responded to the memory card shortage by raising prices rather than halting orders. This approach keeps products nominally available but at significantly higher cost, shifting the pain to customers rather than cutting off supply entirely. Sony’s decision to suspend orders outright suggests the company believes the shortage is severe enough that raising prices would not solve the problem—supply simply cannot meet demand at any price point in the near term. This distinction matters: other manufacturers are still trying to sell through the crisis, while Sony has essentially admitted it cannot fulfill orders responsibly.
When Will Sony Memory Cards Return?
Sony has provided no timeline for when memory card production will resume. The company stated it will monitor the supply situation and announce resumption separately on its product information page, but offered no estimate for when that might occur. Given that the shortage is driven by AI data center competition for NAND flash capacity, recovery depends on whether semiconductor manufacturers can increase production or whether AI demand eventually plateaus—neither outcome is certain or imminent.
Should You Buy Sony Memory Cards Now?
If you use Sony cameras, purchasing available inventory from retailers like B&H Photo while stock lasts is prudent. Once retail supplies deplete, no new Sony cards will be available until the company resumes production, which could take months or longer. If you are a casual user, this may be the moment to buy extra cards as insurance against future unavailability. For professionals who shoot daily, the risk of running out of storage mid-project makes stockpiling essential, even at elevated prices.
Is this shortage affecting other memory card brands?
The global memory card shortage affects all manufacturers, but Sony is the first major player to halt orders entirely. SanDisk and others continue selling but at tripled prices, making Sony’s suspension a canary in the coal mine for how severe the shortage has become. Other manufacturers may follow Sony’s lead if the shortage persists.
Why is AI causing a memory shortage?
AI data centers require massive quantities of NAND flash memory and other semiconductors to train and run large language models. This demand has consumed manufacturing capacity that would otherwise go to consumer products like memory cards, driving prices up and supply down across the entire industry.
Can I use memory cards from other brands in Sony cameras?
Yes, CFexpress Type A and Type B cards from other manufacturers work in Sony cameras that support those formats, as do SD cards. During this shortage, switching to SanDisk or other brands is a viable workaround, though expect to pay premium prices.
Sony’s suspension of memory card orders is a watershed moment for the semiconductor shortage, proving that even major manufacturers will stop selling rather than pretend supply exists. For photographers, the message is clear: buy available stock now or prepare for a prolonged wait once retail supplies run dry. The broader lesson is that AI’s hunger for chips is reshaping consumer electronics in real time, and supply chains that seemed stable a year ago can vanish overnight.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: TechRadar
