HiBy M500 x Hatsune Miku: DAP Returns to Stock, but with a Price Increase

The HiBy M500 x Hatsune Miku has returned to stock on HiBy’s official online store, but with adjusted prices. The price change for HiBy Digital’s Digital Audio Player (DAP) was already expected, as it is the result of the global shortage of RAM memory chips, as previously explained by Hi-Fi Hub. Below, we detail how much the prices of the Wi-Fi and 4G versions of the M500 x Hatsune Miku have increased.

HiBy Digital Increases the Prices of the M500 x Hatsune Miku

Today (22), HiBy Digital announced on its official Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) social media profiles a price increase for the M500 x Hatsune Miku DAP. The company decided to raise the prices of both the Wi-Fi and 4G versions by US$50. The original and new prices are listed below:

• HiBy Digital M500 x Hatsune Miku Wi-Fi: US$269 → US$319
• HiBy Digital M500 x Hatsune Miku 4G: US$299 → US$349

What Caused the Price Increase of HiBy’s DAPs?

The increase in the prices charged for HiBy’s DAPs was caused by the global shortage of RAM memory chips, as reported by Hi-Fi Hub. This shortage has resulted from the construction and expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, which require both NVIDIA GPUs and DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) chips.

According to the technology market research firm Counterpoint Research, the high demand for “LPDDR4” memory chips by AI companies has driven market prices upward.

“Spot price imbalances are occurring: while DDR5 for servers and PCs is trading at around US$1.50 per gigabit, the older DDR4 used in consumer electronics has reached US$2.10, even higher than the more advanced HBM3e, which is hovering around US$1.70.”

Throughout 2025, prices increased by 30%, and at the beginning of this year, an additional 20% increase is projected, according to Counterpoint.

“Memory prices are likely to rise by 30% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and possibly by another 20% at the beginning of next year, on top of the 50% increases already recorded so far this year.”

As the memory chips used in Digital Audio Players are predominantly LPDDR4, as previously demonstrated by Hi-Fi Hub, HiBy will not be the only company to raise the prices of its products. Hi-Fi Hub contacted FiiO to inquire about the company’s position on this scenario, and the following statement was provided:

“We have already absorbed the increase in memory chip prices internally, taking user affordability into account. However, if prices continue to rise, we will have no choice but to increase our supply prices. If distributors are unable to bear this increase, it will ultimately result in a higher retail price for the end consumer.”

On January 16, MS Hwang, Research Director at Counterpoint Research, stated that RAM memory manufacturers are selling their chips with orders not only for 2026, but also for the following two years. In other words, price increases are expected to continue for a considerable period.

“These manufacturers are now selling their capacity not only for 2026, but also for 2027 and 2028.”

Hwang further adds:

“While rapid price appreciation is likely to continue for now, it is difficult to estimate memory chip pricing beyond mid-2027.”

According to Counterpoint’s forecast, the total cost contribution of memory components in smartphones is expected to rise from 10% to 30% by early 2027.