RAM Shortage Drives Up Prices and Lowers PC, Smartphone Performance

The ongoing shortage of RAM is affecting both smartphones and personal computers, leading to rising prices and diminished performance for consumers. This crisis is having a significant impact across the tech industry as manufacturers and users feel the strain.

Manufacturers Grapple with Soaring RAM Prices

The global memory market is facing unprecedented turbulence, and its effects are starting to ripple far beyond the usual consumer segment. According to research from TrendForce, a leading market intelligence firm, the price surge for RAM is about to reach critical sectors like smartphones and laptops—forcing manufacturers into some difficult choices as they look ahead to 2026.

Smartphones: Higher Costs, Fewer Options

What was once a headache limited to DIY PC builders has now become a strategic crisis for major phone makers. Even industry giants such as Apple, typically known for weathering supply chain storms with relative ease, may find themselves compelled to revisit their pricing strategies—including for older models, as the anticipated release of the iPhone 18 draws near. For those in the Android camp, the writing is already on the wall: “The surge in memory costs will push Samsung to hike future model prices by 2026,” projects TrendForce.

Several factors explain this looming shift:

• The high-end segment will see steeper prices but retain performance.
• The mid-range is expected to suffer shrinking specifications, with 12GB options becoming rare—most will settle for just 6-8GB.
• The entry-level tier may be cut down further, often offering only 4GB of RAM.

Chinese players like Xiaomi and Redmi are already alerting customers to brace for a jump in costs—potentially between 20% and 30% as soon as 2026.

Laptop Market Feels the Squeeze

Laptop manufacturers have tried to buffer themselves against these upheavals by stockpiling components—a tactic used by brands such as Lenovo, Dell, and memory producer Crucial (Micron). However, even these temporary measures can only delay the inevitable. As early as the second quarter of 2026, experts anticipate substantial volatility in PC pricing and configurations. Upper-tier laptops may top out at just 16GB of installed memory, while mainstream and entry-level machines could stagnate around an increasingly modest 8GB threshold.

Some brands seek goodwill through transparency. For instance, startup manufacturer Framework publicly distances itself from strategies that would “overcharge customers like Dell,” making customer trust a selling point amid widespread uncertainty.

No Quick End in Sight

Industry forecasts suggest this wave of inflation will persist until at least 2028. Between relentless price increases and shrinking profit margins across the electronics sector, both consumers and manufacturers are left navigating a changed landscape—potentially postponing purchases or reconsidering which features truly matter in their next device.