If you are planning to buy a new smartphone or PC next year, there is a good chance it will cost more than you expect. A global shortage of RAM is tightening supply across the tech industry, and researchers say the situation is likely to drag on for years.
According to a new report from the International Data Corporation, the current memory crunch is expected to persist well into 2027. The firm warns that the era of cheap and plentiful memory is effectively over, at least for now.
The price surge is being driven by a major shift in how memory is allocated. Companies like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix are prioritizing massive orders from AI firms building large scale data centers. Those customers require enormous amounts of high performance memory, leaving less supply available for consumer devices.
PC gamers were among the first to feel the impact as RAM upgrades became dramatically more expensive. Now the ripple effects are spreading to phones, laptops, and tablets.
Smartphone pricing is especially vulnerable. IDC says the cost of a phone is heavily dependent on the type and amount of memory it uses. As RAM prices climb, phone makers are being forced to either raise prices, cut specifications, or do both.
Budget focused brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Honor, and Huawei are expected to pass higher costs directly to consumers. These companies already operate on thin margins and have limited flexibility to swap out components. Xiaomi and Honor have already raised prices on some tablets, and Xiaomi has publicly warned that smartphone price increases are coming next.
Apple and Samsung are in a slightly stronger position. Because they lock in memory supply a year or more in advance, they have more control over pricing in the short term. Even so, IDC notes that flagship devices are unlikely to push past 12GB of RAM any time soon, despite rising software demands.
IDC estimates that average smartphone prices could rise between 3 and 5 percent under moderate conditions. In a worse case scenario, that increase could reach 6 to 8 percent.
The PC market faces an equally challenging setup. The memory shortage is colliding with Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 and a broader industry push toward AI powered PCs that require significantly more RAM. Dell, HP, Acer, and Asus have already confirmed upcoming price hikes.
AI focused machines such as Copilot Plus PCs may be hit hardest. These systems require a minimum of 16GB of RAM, leaving manufacturers with little room to cut costs. IDC projects PC prices could climb between 4 and 6 percent in a moderate scenario and as much as 8 percent if supply constraints worsen.
What This Means for Everyday People
For consumers, this means fewer true budget options and more compromises. Entry level phones may ship with less memory, while PCs that once felt affordable could move out of reach. Even if you do not care about AI features, you may end up paying for the infrastructure that supports them.
The RAM shortage is also a reminder that shifts in enterprise and AI investment eventually show up in everyday purchases. What happens in data centers today shapes the price of the devices people rely on tomorrow.
For tips, leaks, and consumer impact stories
hello@laterstack.com
If you are tracking how supply chain pressure is reshaping consumer tech, these Laterstack stories connect the dots
Google and Apple Warn Visa Holding Employees to Avoid International Travel
New York Governor Kathy Hochul Signs RAISE Act to Regulate AI Safety
Sequoia Partner’s False Brown Shooting Claims Put New Leadership to the Test
TikTok Hands Control of Its US Business to American Investors After Years of Pressure