Micron Discontinues Crucial Consumer RAM and SSDs to Focus on AI Industry

Micron Exits Consumer Memory Market After Three Decades

Micron Technology has announced it will wind down its consumer-facing Crucial brand after nearly 30 years in the market, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company is pivoting away from consumer RAM and SSDs to focus on supplying memory components to the rapidly growing AI industry.

Timeline and Product Availability

Crucial-branded RAM modules and solid-state drives will continue to be available through February 2026. After this date, consumers looking to upgrade their PCs will need to turn to alternative brands for memory and storage solutions.

Micron has committed to honoring all warranty service and support for existing Crucial products, ensuring current customers won't be left without recourse if issues arise.

Why Micron Is Making This Move

The decision reflects the massive demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and other specialized components needed by AI data centers. As artificial intelligence workloads continue to expand, tech companies are competing aggressively for memory supply, making enterprise and AI customers more lucrative than the consumer market.

By exiting the consumer space, Micron can dedicate more manufacturing capacity to producing HBM and enterprise-grade memory products that command higher profit margins.

Impact on PC Builders and Consumers

The exit of Crucial—one of the most trusted names in consumer memory—could lead to reduced competition in the RAM and SSD markets. This may result in higher prices and fewer options for DIY PC builders and consumers looking to upgrade their systems.

With Crucial gone, the consumer memory market will be increasingly dominated by brands like Corsair, Kingston, G.Skill, and Samsung. The timing raises concerns about a potential "RAM crisis" as AI's appetite for memory continues to impact consumer availability and pricing.