All articles tagged with #memory chip shortage
The surge in AI data center construction is causing a global memory chip shortage, which is driving up smartphone costs and eliminating the cheapest devices from the market. This shift threatens to widen the digital divide for low-income consumers.
Samsung has raised prices for the Galaxy S26 series in the US, EU, UK, and Canada, following earlier hikes in India and South Korea. The increases, attributed to rising memory chip costs, range from $100 to $200 in the US and vary by region. This move extends a global trend of price hikes affecting both flagship and budget smartphones from major tech companies.
Micron Technology shares fell 1.5% to $1,080.89 on October 2, 2026, despite reporting record revenue of $54.23 billion and adjusted earnings of $33.42 per share. Investors remain cautious due to concerns over the cyclical nature of the chip industry and potential margin pressure. While CEO Sanjay Mehrotra stated that 75% of 2027 supply is already sold out, analysts warn that future GPU specifications and server memory standards could reduce demand. The stock has risen only 2% since the earnings release, reflecting skepticism about the sustainability of current profit margins.
Micron Technology shares climbed 5.5% on September 17 after Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan warned that the global memory chip shortage will intensify next year. The move was supported by a broader market rally and Micron's recent record-breaking financial performance.
Bloomberg reports a major MacBook Air shortage with U.S. delivery estimates of 2–6 weeks, longer for higher-RAM configurations, despite Apple’s $200 price increase to $1,299. The supply constraint is tied to a memory chip shortage fueled by AI server demand, affecting other Macs like the Mac Studio and Mac mini as Apple struggles to meet demand.
Apple captured a 20% share of the global smartphone market in Q2 2026 as shipments fell 4% year over year due to a memory-chip shortage, aided by a strong iPhone 17 upgrade cycle and flat iPhone pricing while rivals raised prices; with supply pressures continuing, analysts expect iPhone pricing could rise later in the year as component costs increase ahead of the iPhone 18 cycle.
Sony plans to grow software and network services revenue by monetizing its PS5 installed base (92.2 million units as of Feb. 5) to offset rising memory costs, noting ongoing supplier negotiations to secure chips while extending the PS5’s lifecycle.
Qualcomm topped Q4 2025 results with EPS of $3.50 and revenue of $12.25B, but issued weak next-quarter guidance of $2.45-$2.65 per share and $10.2B-$11B in revenue, below consensus. Management cited a global memory-chip shortage squeezing smartphone and data-center memory orders, with customers delaying purchases. The stock slid about 10% on the outlook, though analysts still rate the stock a Moderate Buy with an average target near $192.
A memory-chip shortage driven by surging AI data-center demand is lifting storage and memory costs, triggering pricing pressure across devices in 2026. Nothing’s Carl Pei warns of 30%+ price hikes on some models, and Samsung hints at repricing; Dell and HP signaled 15–20% increases in the near term. IDC expects smartphone prices to rise 3–8% and PC prices 4–8%, with global device shipments potentially down about 9%. TrendForce also projects reduced smartphone production, while larger brands may gain share as smaller players struggle.}