A global RAM shortage is likely to continue affecting device prices, with the International Data Corporation (IDC) expecting it to “persist well into 2027” (20/12). The firm says this shortage “signals the end of an era of cheap, abundant memory and storage” for now.

The rise in RAM prices is caused by major memory makers—Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix—shifting more resources toward AI companies, which are buying large amounts of memory for their data centers. PC gamers felt the price increases first, but other devices are now being affected as well.

Smartphone Prices Set to Rise

IDC notes that smartphone prices “are heavily dependent” on the type of memory used. Rising RAM costs are forcing phone manufacturers to “raise prices significantly, cut specifications or both.”

Budget-friendly smartphones from Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Honor, and Huawei have few options to manage these higher costs. These brands have already optimized their parts to keep prices low and cannot easily replace components with cheaper ones. Xiaomi and Honor have started raising tablet prices, and Xiaomi has warned about upcoming price increases for smartphones.

Samsung and Apple, which can “secure memory supply 12–24 months in advance,” have more flexibility. Both companies added 12GB of RAM to flagship models this year, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. IDC predicts that average smartphone prices could rise 3–5% in a moderate scenario or 6–8% in a pessimistic scenario.

PC Market Faces Price Hikes

The memory shortage is creating a “perfect storm” for the PC industry, IDC says, coinciding with Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 and the rise of memory-heavy AI PCs. Dell, HP, Acer, and Asus have already confirmed incoming price increases.

AI-focused devices, such as Microsoft’s Copilot Plus PCs, may need to either raise prices or reduce RAM. This is challenging because Copilot Plus PCs come with at least 16GB of RAM. IDC has not changed its PC market forecast for 2026 but expects average PC prices to rise 4–6% under a moderate scenario or 6–8% in a pessimistic one.

Tech Companies Adjust to Memory Supply Constraints

Companies like Samsung and Apple, which have secured long-term memory supply, can better manage rising costs without major price increases or specification cuts. Budget-focused smartphone makers and AI-PC producers may need to pass costs to consumers or adjust device specifications to deal with the shortage.

PHOTO: FREEPIK

This article was created with AI assistance.