Rising RAM Costs and Chip Shortages Signal Price Hikes in Electronics

Rising demand for AI and data center memory, especially DDR5 and HBM, has driven up RAM prices globally, leading to a shortage that is expected to impact smartphone costs and configurations in 2026. Manufacturers may reduce RAM in devices, delay high-memory models, or shift focus to storage, resulting in higher prices and potentially lower performance options for consumers. The supply constraints are unlikely to ease until at least 2027, influencing the smartphone market significantly.