Critical Situation in Memory Supply Chains
As of mid-January 2026, there is a critical situation in supply chains caused by a memory shortage. This leads to a significant increase in prices for electronics, particularly smartphones. The main reason for the shortage is the global boom in artificial intelligence and the construction of powerful data centers, which, according to experts, results in a substantial rise in memory costs.
Impact of the Shortage on the Smartphone Market
The shortage of DRAM memory has become a serious problem for manufacturers, as mobile LPDDR memory has increased in price by 70%, and costs for NAND flash drives have risen by 100%. This has led to an increase in the share of memory costs in smartphone production from 10-15% to 20%. As a result, the price of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset will exceed $300, while the previous generation of this chipset was priced at $280.
Consequently, flagship smartphone models may increase in price by $100-150 in 2026. In the mid-range and budget segments, manufacturers may reintroduce 4 GB of RAM, however, the overall increase in prices for smartphones, computers, and electronics may be up to 20%. A co-CEO of Samsung notes that no company will be able to avoid this crisis, highlighting the seriousness of the situation in the electronics market.
“No company will be able to avoid the crisis.”
Co-CEO of Samsung
This situation underscores the importance of supply chain resilience in a rapidly changing technological environment. Electronics manufacturers, trying to cope with rising costs, may be forced to revisit their pricing strategies and product assortments. Given the ongoing demand for new technologies, including artificial intelligence, the memory shortage situation may have lasting implications for the industry, forcing companies to seek alternative solutions to reduce costs and ensure production stability.