Best Graphics Cards to Buy in January 2026: Prices, Picks, and Buying Advice

Graphics card pricing in early 2026 reflects unusual post-holiday stock levels and mounting pressure from rising VRAM costs.

Hardware by Tanisha Aria on Jan 09, 2026

It's time to take a first look at how much 2026 graphics cards will cost and how well they will work. Concerns about GPU price increases caused by a global RAM shortage are rising.

This makes many buyers wonder if now is the best time to buy a new graphics card or if they could get a better deal by waiting. When January 2026 starts, the market is in a strange state.

Best Graphics Cards, to Buy in January 2026, Prices, Picks, Buying Advice, NoobFeed

There is still stock from late 2025, VRAM prices are rising, and AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel all have unclear pricing trends. This guide covers GPU prices today, key market trends, upcoming launches later in 2026, and the best graphics cards to buy across every price range.

GPU Pricing Trends in Early 2026

The graphics cards available in 2026 look very different from those in the past. Most current-generation GPUs sell out every year between Black Friday and the end of the year.

It didn't happen again in late 2025, though. Many GPUs stayed in stock over the holidays, possibly because there were too many on the market or because RAM prices were so high that people didn't want to buy them. As January begins, the way prices are moving suggests manufacturers may finally be putting through the long-awaited price hikes.

AMD Radeon GPU Prices

RX 9070 XT 16GB Pricing Shifts

The prices of AMD Radeon cards are starting to move up. Prices for the RX 9070 XT 16GB have risen by about $50 since they hit their recent low. This is an 8% rise. There are still some models that are on sale, but cards that have just been restocked are often offered at much higher prices.

Some models can still be found for $649, but versions that used to sell for $599 are now more likely to be found for $699. This mix of old deals and higher restock prices makes it look like AMD's prices may be up to $100 more than they were in late 2025 as the year goes on.

RX 9070 16GB Availability and Cost

With the RX907016GB, the design is the same. Few types are in stock; there are only a few to choose from. The least expensive choices cost around $550, while the most expensive ones now cost around $599 or more. Aside from a few deals that are still available, prices are likely to go up by $50 to $70 soon.

RX 9060 XT 16GB Price Increases

The RX 9060 XT 16 GB, one of AMD's most famous GPUs, is also under significant pressure. You can still find it for about $379, but models that sold out during big sales are coming back at much higher prices.

Several versions that used to cost $399 are now offered at $399, which is a $50 increase. The least expensive RX 9060 XT 8GB is still around $290, but most of the older versions that were on sale have disappeared.

Best Graphics Cards, to Buy in January 2026, Prices, Picks, Buying Advice, NoobFeed

NVIDIA GPU Prices in 2026

RTX 5090 Pricing Volatility

The price of the RTX 5090 has become increasingly extreme at the high end. Nearly all the units for sale cost more than $3,000, and many quickly rise to $3,500 or even $4,000. It's still not clear whether this is just a brief supply shortage after the holidays or a new, long-term price reality.

RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti Price Pressure

Price trends for the RTX 5080 are also well above its original MSRP. Some listings are still around $1200, but most of the types are more than $1300. How close prices get to $1000 in the end depends a lot on how many items are restocked.

The RTX5070Ti also has a worrying pattern: some units are at MSRP, but many are priced over $800. Even manufacturer MSRP cards are now showing higher prices, suggesting prices will change across the board.

RTX 5070 and Midrange NVIDIA Cards

The RTX 5070 12GB is still not very popular because it only has 1GB of VRAM. This has helped keep prices somewhat low. Prices range from $489 to $529, but flash sales sometimes bring them down even further.

Because this card has less VRAM, it might be a little less likely to go up in price when VRAM is in short supply. At its lower price points, the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB is harder to find.

Some models quickly rise to prices above $400. At the same time, NVIDIA appears to be actively discounting 8GB models; the price of the RTX 5060 8 GB has dropped well below its MSRP.

Intel Arc GPU Pricing Stability

In early 2026, Intel's GPU line is still one of the most stable parts of the market. The Arc B570 and Arc B580 are still great deals because they are cheap and often come with free games.

Intel is a good choice for builds that need to stay within a budget, as older Arc models like the A580 are still among the cheapest new 8GB options.

Best Graphics Cards, to Buy in January 2026, Prices, Picks, Buying Advice, NoobFeed

GPU Market News and 2026 Launch Outlook

Some new GPUs might come out later in 2026, but none are due in the first few months of the year, and none of them look very exciting. The most important rumors are not about new goods, but about big price hikes.

Reports say AMD and NVIDIA may keep raising prices all year as VRAM costs rise. This is mostly because AI data centers are using up all the available memory. Price increases are thought to range from small 10% increases to much bigger jumps. There is still a lot of doubt because VRAM prices keep changing.

Best Graphics Cards to Buy in January 2026

Best GPU Around $200

For buyers who want to save as much money as possible, the Arc B570 10GB is clearly the best value. It can run most games at 1080p, and even some at 1440p, and its VRAM buffer is surprisingly big for its price. Driver support has come a long way, but brand-new games may still have trouble on their first day.

Best GPU Under $300

The Arc B580 12GB, RTX 5050, RTX 5060 8GB, RX 9060 XT 8GB, and older RTX 3060 12GB models are all good choices in this price range. The Arc B580 12GB is still a good pick if you want higher-resolution gaming and more VRAM.

The RX 9060 XT 8GB works a little better than the RTX 5060 8GB in some situations, especially on older PCIe systems. Still, the price difference makes it less appealing to most people.

Best GPU Under $400

This group is getting narrower and narrower. The RX 9060 XT 16GB and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB are the best budget options for 1440p gaming. They both have 16GB of VRAM and the latest upscaling technologies. The two perform very similarly, with small advantages that vary depending on the game and the upscaler's configuration.

Best GPU Under $600

In this case, the RX 9070 16GB and RTX 5070 12GB face off. The RX 9070 has more VRAM and a slightly better long-term value, but the RTX 5070 is better because it supports more older games that upscale. The RX 9070 is usually better for long-term 1440p gaming over the next few years, unless the price changes significantly.

Best GPU Under $800

At this level, the RX 9070 XT 16GB and RTX 5070 Ti perform almost identically in games. Price ends up being the final factor. There is a big price difference between the two, which strongly favors the RX9070XT. This is especially true when you look at the overall system budget and the rising costs of other parts like RAM and storage.

No-Compromise GPUs

The RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 are the very best graphics cards, but their current prices make them hard to justify. The RTX 5080 doesn't perform much better than much cheaper alternatives, and the RTX 5090's price makes it impossible for most builders to consider it a good deal in 2026.

Best Graphics Cards, to Buy in January 2026, Prices, Picks, Buying Advice, NoobFeed

Should You Buy Now or Wait?

Early signs show that GPU prices will continue to rise across both the AMD and NVIDIA lines. Since there won't be any big launches in the next few months and the cost of VRAM keeps rising, prices probably won't get much better.

It's too bad that you missed the lowest prices at the end of 2025, but the prices you see now are still a good deal compared to what you'll see later in the year. If you want to build something new or improve something you already have, getting started now is the safer option before prices go up even more.

Also, check our other NVIDIA articles below: