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Graphics cards cost far more in 2026 than their official prices suggest. Nvidia and AMD kept their list prices, but by August 2026 the median RTX 5070 sold for $899.99 at Newegg against a $549 list price.
That flips the usual Black Friday math. Last November the RTX 5070 sold for $479 to $499 and the RX 9070 XT reached its $599 list price. A big percentage discount this year can still leave you paying more than last year.
So on November 27, a card at or near its list price is the real win. Here’s what each card is supposed to cost, what changed since last year and which one I’d buy.
GPU Prices Right Now
These are the launch list prices Nvidia and AMD set in the US. Neither company has changed them, so they’re still the fair price to measure every deal against.
| Card | Memory | US list price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 5060 | 8GB | $299 | 1080p |
| Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | 16GB | $349 | 1080p and light 1440p |
| GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | 16GB | $429 | 1080p and 1440p |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 12GB | $549 | 1440p |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | 16GB | $599 | 1440p high refresh |
| GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 16GB | $749 | 4K |
| GeForce RTX 5080 | 16GB | $999 | 4K high refresh |
Street prices sit well above these for most cards. Tom’s Hardware’s Newegg data showed median prices rising up to 40% between June and August 2026 alone, as reported by PCGamesN. The 16GB RTX 5060 Ti took the biggest jump.
Black Friday 2025 vs 2026
Last Black Friday, several cards sold below their list prices. These were the best US prices for the most popular cards:
| Card | US list price | Black Friday 2025 price |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 5070 | $549 | $479 to $499 |
| Radeon RX 9070 | $549 | $519.99 |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | $599 | $599.99 |
By August 2026 the picture had turned around. The median RTX 5070 at Newegg reached $899.99, and the median RTX 5060 Ti 16GB reached $804.99 against its $429 list price. So last year’s Black Friday prices are now the best case this year.
What’s Pushing GPU Prices Up
The 2026 increases come almost entirely from memory, with supply cuts on top.
Graphics memory got expensive. GDDR6 and GDDR7 come from the same memory makers that now prioritize AI data centers. Nvidia and AMD sell their chips to card makers bundled with memory, and both raised the price of those bundles several times in 2026 while keeping list prices the same. So the increase shows up as card makers’ prices and fewer cards near list price, rather than as a new official price.
Fewer cards reached stores. Industry reports from early 2026 said Nvidia cut graphics card supply to its partners and shifted production toward cheaper 8GB models such as the RTX 5060. Nvidia hasn’t confirmed the numbers, but the 16GB RTX 5060 Ti also showed the steepest rise in the Newegg data.
Relief looks far away. Analysts at Jefferies expect memory prices to keep rising through the end of 2026, with real relief only around 2028 as new factories open. A card bought this Black Friday is unlikely to look expensive in hindsight a few months later.
What to Expect This Black Friday
Nvidia and AMD rarely announce Black Friday sales themselves. The deals come from retailers and card makers. My expectations for 2026:
- Likely: retailer discounts off today’s high street prices. These can look big in percentage terms and still sit above list price.
- Possible: a few cards at or near list price, mostly 8GB models and short-lived offers. Nvidia selling RTX 50 cards at list price at QuakeCon 2026 made headlines, which shows how rare that has become.
- Unlikely: last year’s prices, such as an RTX 5070 under $500.
Buy if you see these prices:
- Any card at or below its list price, from a major retailer and sold as new
- RTX 5070 under $600 or RX 9070 XT under $650 for 1440p
- RX 9060 XT 16GB under $400 for a budget build that won’t run out of memory
Which GPU to Buy
Match the card to your monitor first. A 1080p screen doesn’t need a $750 card, and a 4K screen will make a $299 card struggle. I’d rank them like this:
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
The RX 9060 XT 16GB is the budget card I’d buy, because 16GB of memory keeps newer games from running out of room at 1080p and 1440p.
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory at a $349 list price
- Supports AMD FSR 4 upscaling in supported games
- Dual-fan card that fits most cases
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
The RTX 5060 is the cheapest current Nvidia card and a fine pick for 1080p esports and older games.
- 8GB of GDDR7 memory at a $299 list price
- DLSS 4 with frame generation in supported games
- 8GB already limits some new games at high settings
Buy it only near its list price. Once it costs within $50 of the RX 9060 XT 16GB, the AMD card is the better buy.
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070
The RTX 5070 is the 1440p card I’d buy, and the one whose price moved the most this year.
- 12GB of GDDR7 memory at a $549 list price
- DLSS 4 with multi frame generation for high frame rates at 1440p
- Triple-fan TUF cooler
PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9070 XT
The RX 9070 XT is the 1440p pick for high refresh rates, with more memory than the RTX 5070.
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory at a $599 list price
- Strong at 1440p and capable at 4K with upscaling
- Triple-fan Reaper design
PNY GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Epic-X
The RTX 5070 Ti is the card I’d pick for a 4K monitor, and the hardest one to find near its list price.
- 16GB of GDDR7 memory at a $749 list price
- Handles 4K with DLSS 4 in most new games
- Large triple-fan card, so check your case clearance
Buy a Card or a Whole PC
If you need a new processor, memory and storage too, compare the full cost against a prebuilt desktop. Memory prices hit both routes, so check my gaming PC Black Friday deals before you price out each part. Readers in India can use my best graphics cards for gaming in India guide for local picks.
FAQs on Black Friday GPU Deals
Will graphics cards be cheaper on Black Friday 2026?
Probably cheaper than today, but unlikely to be cheaper than last year. Memory costs pushed street prices far above list prices in 2026, so the best Black Friday deals will bring cards back toward their list prices rather than below them.
Why are GPU prices so high in 2026?
Graphics memory got much more expensive because memory makers prioritize AI data centers. Nvidia and AMD passed those costs to card makers, and reported supply cuts left fewer cards on shelves.
Is 8GB of VRAM enough in 2026?
For 1080p esports and older games, yes. For new games at high settings, 8GB already runs short, so a 16GB card such as the RX 9060 XT 16GB is the safer budget buy.
Should I wait until 2027 to buy a graphics card?
Only if your current card still runs what you play. Analysts expect memory prices to stay high through 2027, so waiting is unlikely to bring prices back to list price soon.
Is the RTX 5070 worth buying on Black Friday?
Yes, for 1440p, if you find it under about $600 from a major retailer. Above that, the RX 9070 XT near its $599 list price gives you more memory for similar money.
Final Remarks
This Black Friday, a graphics card at or near its list price is the deal, whatever the discount label says. For most people that means an RX 9060 XT 16GB for budget builds or an RTX 5070 for 1440p, bought from a major retailer.
If no card you want gets close to list price, keep your current card a little longer. Prices are unlikely to fall much before 2027, but they’re also unlikely to justify a rushed buy at today’s street prices.