今回の価格改定において、最も価格変動が大きかったのはAmazonのラインナップの中でも安価な製品群です。スマートスピーカーのEcho Dot（第5世代）は49.99ドルから79.99ドルへと急上昇しました。さらに、基本レベルのKindleは149.99ドルになり、約37パーセントの値上げを記録しています。
Echo DotやKindleなど主要デバイスの大幅値上げ
Amazon has recently raised prices on its Kindle e-readers across its main hardware lines. The entry-level and mid-range models, including the basic Kindle, Paperwhite, and Signature versions, now come with higher price tags than their predecessors. The only exception to this price hike is the Kindle Scribe, which was already on the pricier side. The 16GB Kindle Paperwhite has seen a price jump to $199 for the ad-supported model, which is an increase from the previous $159. Meanwhile, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is now available for $249, reflecting a significant overnight hike of $50. In addition, the basic Kindle’s price has risen by $40, currently priced at $149 with ads, and $169 without. Not only is this the new reality for USA customers and all of Amazon’s distribution partners such as Best Buy, but prices have risen internationally, in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom.
The cheapest products in Amazon’s lineup were hit hardest. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max also rose by over 40 percent to $84.99. Here is the full list of price increases across the affected devices:
Product: Echo Dot (5th gen) | Was: $49.99 | Now: $79.99 | Increase: 60.00%
Product: Fire TV Stick 4K Max | Was: $59.99 | Now: $84.99 | Increase: 41.70%
Product: Echo Spot | Was: $79.99 | Now: $109.99 | Increase: 37.50%
Product: Kindle (16GB) | Was: $109.99 | Now: $149.99 | Increase: 36.40%
Product: Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) | Was: $159.99 | Now: $199.99 | Increase: 25.00%
Product: Echo Show 21 | Was: $399.99 | Now: $499.99 | Increase: 25.00%
Product: Echo Dot Max | Was: $99.99 | Now: $119.99 | Increase: 20.00%
Product: Echo Show 15 | Was: $299.99 | Now: $349.99 | Increase: 16.70%
Product: Fire TV Stick HD | Was: $34.99 | Now: $39.99 | Increase: 14.30%
Product: eero 7 (3-pack) | Was: $349.99 | Now: $399.99 | Increase: 14.30%
Product: eero Pro 7 (3-pack) | Was: $699.99 | Now: $799.99 | Increase: 14.30%
Product: Echo Show 11 | Was: $219.99 | Now: $249.99 | Increase: 13.60%
Product: Echo Show 8 | Was: $179.99 | Now: $199.99 | Increase: 11.10%
一方で、セキュリティカメラやビデオドアベルのRingシリーズ、および上位モデルのEcho Studio（219.99ドル）は価格据え置きとなりました。無線メッシュネットワークシステムのeero 7（3パック）は349.99ドルから399.99ドルへ、eero Pro 7（3パック）は699.99ドルから799.99ドルへとそれぞれ引き上げられています。Pocket-lint earlier reported on the Fire TV increases.
部品コストの上昇と業界全体の動向
担当者は、同社がこれまでコスト増を自社で吸収し続け、手頃な価格での提供に努めてきたものの、製品ライン全体で価格調整を行わざるを得なかったと説明しています。また、Amazon will also offer promotions across its lineup throughout the year.
Industry observers connect these shifts to rising component and memory storage costs driven by broader hardware supply pressures. Social media is lamenting these price changes, but is saying that due to an upcoming sale in October, the prices might go back to the normal price for a limited time. This is the first time that Amazon has increased e-reader prices in a very long time. Major manufacturer Kobo implemented price hikes ranging from $10 to $30 on all of their current-generation e-readers earlier this year.
AI需要による半導体不足と今後の見通し
メモリコストの圧力はAmazonだけに留まりません。Companies big and small have been increasing prices due to a memory chip shortage brought on by immense demand for AI compute. In June, Apple was forced to raise prices for its Macs and iPads to account for the increased cost of memory chips, with Chief Executive Tim Cook characterizing the move as a 100-year flood on memory pricing.
Microsoft also said recently it will increase the price of its Xbox game consoles by $100 to $150, depending on the version, and that it would no longer sell Xbox consoles with 2 terabytes of memory, its highest-end configuration. Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Asus have also raised prices or reduced the amount of memory in their products.
Amazon’s price increases are especially notable given the company’s reputation for low costs and cheap hardware. The move also comes as the company prepares for an upcoming fall event to show off its newest devices. In late July, Amazon Chief Executive Andy Jassy told investors that Amazon now expects to devote $220 billion this year to capital expenditures, primarily to build and equip the data centers that power AI services, up from its prior estimate of $200 billion, owing to higher memory costs.
高水準の投資を行ってもなお、2026年および2027年の需要を満たすだけの十分な容量を確保できないという見通しが示されており、半導体市場の逼迫が当面の間続く可能性が懸念されています。