Smartphone and Laptop Manufacturers Face Higher Prices
Smartphone and Laptop Manufacturers Face Higher Prices
A Long-Standing Trend Comes Under Pressure
For years, consumers have grown accustomed to steady hardware upgrades. Smartphones shipped with more memory each generation, laptops became faster and more capable, and falling component costs helped keep prices in check. That long-standing pattern is now under threat.
According to multiple industry analysts, including TrendForce, the global memory market is entering a renewed tightening phase. DRAM and NAND prices, which rebounded strongly in 2024 and 2025, are now expected to rise further into the first quarter of 2026, placing mounting pressure on the entire consumer electronics ecosystem. This time, however, the impact may be more structural than cyclical.
Memory Costs Are Taking Center Stage
At the heart of the issue is the changing role of memory in device economics. DRAM, in particular, is accounting for an increasingly large share of the bill of materials for smartphones and PCs. As suppliers prioritize higher-margin products—such as server memory, HBM for AI accelerators, and advanced DDR5—capacity available for consumer-grade memory has tightened. This shift has limited manufacturers’ ability to offset cost increases through volume alone.
TrendForce notes that device makers are being forced into difficult trade-offs. Rising memory costs may lead some premium brands to adjust pricing or discount strategies carefully, while manufacturers competing in the mid-range and entry-level segments have thinner margins, making cost increases more difficult to absorb. In these cases, passing costs directly to consumers risks affecting demand.
Specification Rollback: A New Reality for Entry-Level Devices
As a result, a strategy once thought unthinkable is re-emerging: specification rollback.
One of the most striking signals from TrendForce’s analysis is the possibility that entry-level smartphones could revert to 4GB of DRAM in 2026. After years of steady upgrades that pushed baseline memory to 6GB or even 8GB in some markets, the industry may be forced to reverse course. This would represent not just a cost-saving measure, but a symbolic break from the assumption that hardware specs always move forward.
The same dynamic is unfolding in higher segments, albeit more subtly. Rather than aggressively increasing RAM capacities year over year, manufacturers are expected to slow upgrade cycles and align configurations closer to minimum market expectations. In effect, memory inflation is reshaping product roadmaps just as much as it is influencing pricing.
The Unique Challenge of Ultrabooks and Notebooks
The PC and notebook market faces its own challenges. TrendForce highlights that ultrathin laptops are particularly exposed to memory price pressure. These devices typically rely on soldered LPDDR memory, leaving manufacturers with little flexibility to downgrade or reconfigure memory after design finalization. As memory costs rise, these systems may see earlier and more pronounced price increases compared to modular desktops or upgradeable laptops.
Other industry reports echo this concern. Major PC vendors have signaled that higher memory and storage costs are feeding directly into pricing decisions, especially for commercial and enterprise systems. Even brands known for modularity and transparency have acknowledged that rising RAM prices are difficult to avoid.
Ripple Effects on Shipments and Market Concentration
Beyond pricing and specifications, the ripple effects could also affect shipment forecasts. TrendForce and other market watchers suggest that sustained cost pressure may lead manufacturers to adjust production or shipment projections, particularly if consumers respond cautiously to higher prices or diminished perceived value. Market share is likely to concentrate further among a small number of leading brands with strong supply-chain leverage.
AI Demand Is Driving Structural Change
What makes this cycle different from previous memory booms is the influence of AI. Unlike past surges driven largely by consumer demand, today’s memory market is being reshaped by hyperscale data centers, AI training workloads, and high-bandwidth memory requirements. These forces are pulling capacity upstream and keeping pricing elevated, even as end-user demand remains uneven.
Implications for Consumers and the Industry
For consumers, the implications are clear but uncomfortable. New devices may cost more, offer fewer headline upgrades, or both. The idea that “next year’s model will be cheaper and better” is no longer guaranteed. For the industry, the message is even starker: memory is no longer a background component—it is a strategic constraint.
As 2026 approaches, the memory market may not just determine component prices, but define the pace, direction, and affordability of consumer technology itself.
The Second-Hand Market: A Strategic Alternative
Rising memory prices are also reshaping the secondary market, creating opportunities for both buyers and sellers. As new devices become more expensive or ship with lower memory configurations, consumers are increasingly looking to sell used laptops, sell iPhones, or trade DDR4 and DDR5 RAM as a cost-effective alternative.
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Used laptops with generous RAM and storage suddenly become more attractive, particularly for students, remote workers, or budget-conscious buyers. Sellers of well-maintained machines can expect stronger demand and better prices.
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Used iPhones and smartphones may see increased interest, as models with larger memory configurations offer better value than new devices constrained by baseline memory.
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DDR4 and DDR5 RAM modules also become more valuable in the second-hand market. DIY builders and tech enthusiasts often turn to used memory kits to upgrade existing systems instead of paying premium prices for new components.
In this environment, the second-hand market is no longer just a fallback—it becomes a strategic part of the tech ecosystem, helping consumers manage costs while providing sellers with a timely opportunity to capitalize on rising memory prices.
Related topics:
DRAM Supply Crunch Continues – Prices Won’t Return to Normal in 2026 – BuySellRam
DRAM & HBM Market Trend Monitor – BuySellRam
Samsung’s 60% DRAM Price Hike Signals a New Phase of Global Memory Tightening – BuySellRam