Introduction
The smartphone industry is bracing for its biggest price surge in nearly three decades. With the explosive demand for AI technologies driving memory chip prices through the roof, leading manufacturers like Samsung and Apple are grappling with supply shortages that threaten to push flagship phone prices to new highs. If you’ve been planning to upgrade your device, now might be the best moment before these increases take full effect.
Record-High Price Hikes on the Horizon
According to recent analysis (translated source), the price of smartphones and PCs is poised to undergo the largest increase seen in 26 years, primarily fueled by skyrocketing RAM costs. AI applications require enormous amounts of memory, and as supply dwindles, this component shortage is sending shockwaves through the industry.
Did You Manage to Secure a New Phone Before Prices Soared?
Samsung’s Struggle to Secure Memory Supply
Samsung recently terminated an executive (translated source) responsible for failing to secure adequate memory inventory before critical deadlines. The company is aggressively recruiting specialists to strengthen supply chain partnerships, particularly with Korean manufacturers, as it battles memory shortages.
Amid these challenges, Samsung is reportedly struggling with the Galaxy S26 pricing, even having to roll back a camera upgrade for the base Galaxy S26 model to keep costs from escalating too sharply. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has strategically released its latest Xiaomi 17 Ultra months ahead of competitors to avoid the worst pricing hikes.
Why You Should Consider Buying a Phone Now
Phones like the Galaxy S26 series and the upcoming iPhone 18 are expected to stay within reasonable price ranges shortly after launch. However, when Apple’s next generation of devices arrive, the full effects of the industry-wide price increases will likely be felt, pushing price tags higher than ever before.
This trend raises concerns about future models like the foldable iPhone, which previous reports estimated could cost around $2,400. With the current memory shortage and related cost surges, that number could climb even further, making this an expensive era for smartphone enthusiasts.
