Future TechnologyThe RAM Shortage Nobody's Talking About Is Already Making Your Next Phone More Expensive
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The RAM Shortage Nobody's Talking About Is Already Making Your Next Phone More Expensive
If you have been vaguely aware that smartphones seem to be getting more expensive without getting proportionally more impressive, there is a specific, technical, supply chain reason for that. A shortage of DRAM and NAND flash memory, driven primarily by production decisions at Micron and a handful of other major manufacturers, is adding meaningful cost to every premium smartphone shipping in the second half of 2026. And it is not going away quickly.
Key Takeaways
- DRAM and NAND flash prices are up 30 to 40 percent from their 2024 troughs due to production cuts at Micron, Samsung Semiconductor, and SK Hynix
- AI data centre demand is competing with consumer electronics for the same memory manufacturing capacity
- The base iPhone 18 is expected to rise to 899 dollars, up from 799 dollars, with the memory shortage cited as a key driver
- New fab capacity from Samsung and Micron's US investments is not expected to ease supply until the second half of 2027
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