NVIDIA to Launch 24GB RTX 5080 by January 2027 as 16GB Prices Hit $2,000

Key points

• NVIDIA aims to launch the 24GB RTX 5080 between December 2026 and January 2027, with January being the more likely date to coincide with CES 2027.
• The new card features 50% more VRAM than the current 16GB model and may share specifications with the rumored 'RTX 5080 SUPER', including higher clock speeds and a 415W TBP.
• Current 16GB RTX 5080 prices have reached $2,000 in the US and over £1,400 in the UK, representing a 50% increase from a year ago and exceeding the original RTX 5090 launch price.
• NVIDIA is discontinuing the 16GB RTX 5080 and RTX 5090D V2 in the Chinese market, leaving the 24GB model as the sole flagship option there.
• Memory manufacturers like SK Hynix and Samsung warn that DRAM supply constraints will persist until 2030, with production lines shifting toward high-margin HBM for AI data centers.

Background

This development follows earlier reports in October 2026 that NVIDIA was halting RTX 5090 production to prioritize workstation GPUs and that a 24GB RTX 5080 was expected to replace it as the gaming flagship. Recent archive coverage also noted that high-end AI-focused laptops, such as the Surface Laptop Ultra, sold out rapidly due to CUDA ecosystem demand, indicating a broader shift in consumer and enterprise purchasing behavior toward high-memory devices.

How outlets are covering it

Wccftech and Board Channels emphasize the accelerated timeline for the 24GB RTX 5080, suggesting it may arrive as early as December to mitigate the impact of the RTX 5090's discontinuation. TechPowerUp and Tom's Hardware focus on the immediate consumer impact, highlighting that the 16GB model's price has doubled to $2,000, matching the original RTX 5090 MSRP. OC3D notes a 50% price rise in the UK over the past year but questions whether the cause is limited supply or bulk purchases by Chinese AI firms. While all sources agree on the price surge, Wccftech highlights the potential for the new card to be absorbed by AI buyers before reaching gamers, whereas Tom's Hardware attributes the scarcity primarily to memory manufacturers prioritizing HBM for AI data centers.

Why it matters

The launch of the 24GB RTX 5080 signals a strategic pivot by NVIDIA to address memory shortages and AI demand. For consumers, the current price spike of the 16GB model makes high-end gaming hardware prohibitively expensive, while the new 24GB variant may face similar supply issues. This trend reflects a broader industry shift where consumer GPUs are increasingly deprioritized in favor of high-margin enterprise AI hardware, potentially leading to sustained high prices and limited availability for gamers throughout 2027.

What to watch

NVIDIA is expected to officially announce the 24GB RTX 5080 at CES 2027 in January, with retail availability following shortly after. The company has cleared its 16GB RTX 5080 inventory, which is expected to last approximately two months until the new product launch. In the Chinese market, the 24GB model will be the only flagship option available, as the 16GB and RTX 5090D V2 models are being discontinued. Consumers may see further price increases for existing models if supply remains constrained, while the new 24GB card's pricing will likely reflect the higher cost of GDDR7 memory.