If you know anything about computers, you have probably learned about the new SSD technology.
This technology is becoming increasingly popular, and people are truly starting to see the benefits.
Of course, as something like this grows in popularity, the pricing starts to come up, and you will end up paying quite a bit.
The SSDs are much more expensive than traditional hard disk storage, but there is a good reason behind this.
Here are a few of the reasons SSDs are so expensive.
Why Are SSDs So Expensive?
1. New Technology
Any time technology is new, it is also thought of as being improved and better than the older technology.
There is no question that the SSD has made an impact in the world of computer storage devices.
The fact that this is new and most people do not have access to it just yet has undoubtedly increased the prices that are paid for this technology.
Let’s take a bit of a deeper look into what an SSD is.
An SSD is a new storage device that is used in computers.
SSD stands for a solid-state drive.
For many years, we have been accustomed to using a traditional computer hard disk drive (HDD).
These have certainly done their job, but there was room for improvement in the technology.
The SSDs are a complete replacement for these traditional mechanical hard drives.
An SSD works by using flash-based memory.
Flash is significantly faster than the traditional mechanical arm used in a hard drive.
The SSDs are designed to increase speed, and they truly make a difference when it comes to gaming and other high-speed applications.
As these SSDs move from being the latest release to the more commonplace technology, you will probably see some drop in cost.
For now, the development and manufacturing of these new devices need to be paid for.
Therefore, the price is going to remain high until those costs start to go down.
2. Faster
The SSDs are faster than traditional hard drive storage.
Have you ever sat and waited for your computer to start up?
How about when you open up a game you would like to play?
Does the computer crawl a bit as you open up the game?
Maybe once things are finally up and running, there is enough speed, but before that, you feel as though you are spending a lot of time waiting.
With an SSD, this is not the case.
You will easily be able to start up a game and be ready to play in a matter of seconds.
The SSD feels as though it works almost instantaneously.
Humans have become quite spoiled when it comes to speed on electronic devices.
Years ago, we would sit and wait a good five minutes for a computer to load up and be ready before we could even work on a word processing document.
Today, people want everything at their fingertips, and they want it NOW.
This is why the SSDs were developed.
If you are a person who doesn’t have the time or the patience to wait for a computer to load up, the SSD is a perfect choice to consider.
Of course, if you are going to be picky about the speed of the computer, you must be prepared to pay a bit more as well.
Speed is convenience, and convenience comes at a cost.
3. Lower Power Requirements
Have you ever noticed that the faster and more advanced your computer is, the faster the battery starts to drain?
Batteries are known for draining really fast when they are working hard to keep a computer going at high speeds.
This is unfortunate, but it has become a reality that many people have had to accept.
With the SSD, you are not going to have to worry about power as much.
These are fast-moving, but they do not drain power.
This is simply because the SSDs are much more efficient.
They have fewer moving parts and work at a higher rate of speed which leaves less wear and tear on the battery.
This can cause the price of the SSD to go up.
However, if you consider that you don’t have to purchase a newer and faster battery to get more speed, this can be a positive.
Older computers tend to lose battery life, too.
It can be hard to tell if it is your HDD causing your battery to drain slowly or if it is just older.
When you get something newer with an SDD, you will notice an instant difference in speed and battery life.
Having to charge less often is certainly a convenience which many are willing to pay for.
4. More Reliable/No Moving Parts
A traditional HDD will write to a magnetic disk using a mechanical arm.
With an SDD, this is not the case.
The mechanical arm is not part of the process and will, therefore, make the SSD more reliable, quieter, and faster as well.
The SSD will share information directly on chips.
This is also what helps keep the power requirements down.
Any time a product has lots of moving parts, it is more subject to breakage.
More moving parts usually means more that can go wrong.
The SSDs are made to have fewer issues when it comes to problems with long term durability.
However, you will have to pay for this.
If you are someone who purchases new computers often, then you may not want to pay for this added expense.
However, if you purchase something and expect it to last for a long time, you should have no issue with paying for the SSD technology.
5. Manufacturing Process Is Still New
Since SSDs have not been around for very long, they still need some help when it comes to manufacturing.
The process of manufacturing and distributing SSDs is still not perfect.
After all, these need to be tested and approved before they leave the warehouse.
Until you have that process well streamlined, the end user is going to pay quite a bit more money.
HDDs are cheap.
This is to be expected, considering how long they have been around.
As years have gone by, manufacturers have learned how to make them in a less expensive way, and charge consumers less for them.
Are SSDs Getting Cheaper?
Now that we have talked about how expensive SSDs are and why, let’s look into whether or not this is going to change anytime soon.
The SSDs are starting to reduce in price.
This is something that has been anticipated all along.
As we go through the next year, you are probably going to see an additional decrease in the SSD pricing.
The pricing seems to go down about ten or fifteen percent at a time.
This is a welcome change for many computer fans, especially gamers who are looking for performance going into 2021.
If you are wondering why the prices on the SSDs are suddenly starting to drop, it has everything to do with supply and demand.
As we mentioned, when this was a brand-new technology, there was quite a high demand for the product.
As people have had more time to access this new technology, they have started to see a decrease in the demand and, therefore, a decrease in the price.
One of the main components of the SSD is the NAND wafer production.
Moving ahead, you will very likely see that these NAND flash supplies become easier to access, and the pricing will continue to drop for SSDs.
If you have been in the market for an SSD, this is probably the time to look into making a purchase.
How Long Do SSDs Last?
When you try to determine how expensive something is and whether or not it is worth the price, the longevity or lifespan of the product is important factor to consider.
Looking at purchasing an expensive product that is only going to last a year or two is not a great idea.
However, choosing something that will last twenty years may make it easier for you to spend the money.
With an SSD, you are going to see about ten years before you need replacement.
Ten years is essentially the maximum limit that you are going to get from an SSD.
However, the average lifespan is usually considerably less.
The average lifespan will probably be closer to six or so years.
You will have to determine if this is a long enough lifespan to pay for the SSD technology in your computer.
Most SSDs do not have problems through the years.
They mostly only experience problems when they have reached the end of their lifespan.
In other words, these are going to be very reliable along the way, but they do have a limited lifespan which you should be aware of prior to purchasing.
Is There Something Faster Than SSD?
As we mentioned, the SSD is about as fast as it gets.
Most people do not have a need for a computer to function much faster than the SSD.
However, if you are willing to pay a significant amount of money, Intel usually has an option.
Intel likes to make some specific products that are built only for those who cannot be satisfied with mainstream equipment.
The Intel Optane 880P is the fastest storage out there.
This Optane is also double or more the price of the SSD.
Certainly, if the speed is worth it to you, then this is an option you should consider.
When purchasing something so expensive in the world of technology, you should consider the warranty as well.
If something were to go wrong, you are going to want a warranty to help offset the costs you have already dumped into the equipment.
Choose an SSD from a company that is highly recommended and has a large brand name standing behind the product.
If you find an SSD that seems very cheap, there is probably a reason behind it.
Most likely, the product is made with lower quality materials, and it will not help you to purchase this.
Keep in mind that a true SSD from a reputable company is going to be more reliable than a traditional HDD.
It will even stand up better to a potential fall of your laptop, which is something that is certainly worth paying for.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are some very legitimate reasons for the SSD being expensive.
The pricing on these fast storage devices is high because they are overall a better product.
If you think that the SSD will be worth it for your computer, you will have to accept that the price will be higher.
The good news is that the prices are slowly coming down.
At some point, the SSD technology will likely be accessible to all income ranges.
NEXT: Why Are Gaming Laptops So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)