RAM Crunch Could Push Smartphone Sales to Historic Drop in 2026
TL;DR
IDC projects smartphone shipments to fall about 12.9% in 2026 due to a global RAM shortage driven by AI datacenters, while average selling prices rise to a record around $523. Memory costs aren’t expected to revert to pre-crisis levels, likely making sub-$100 phones uneconomical and shifting market share toward Apple and Samsung.
- Smartphone sales could be in for their biggest drop ever The Verge
- AI is gobbling up the world’s memory chips, sending smartphone prices to record highs, report says CNN
- Smartphone Market Set to Shrink 13% Due to Memory Chip Crisis, IDC Says Bloomberg
- RAM Reality Check: How Much Memory Does Your PC Actually Need in 2026? PCMag
- Smartphone market set for biggest-ever decline in 2026 on memory price surge, IDC says Reuters
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