Your next smartphone can be even more expensive than now, here is why
Follow UsSamsung is reportedly planning for another round of DRAM price hikes in the third quarter of 2026.
Samsung is likely in discussions to increase DRAM prices by up to 20 per cent compared to the previous quarter
This comes at a time when the memory market remains under the mounting pressure from strong demand and limited supply.
As we have said earlier, the best time to buy a smartphone was yesterday and the second best time is today. Why? Because, the cost of your next smartphone can even rise further, even after the steep price hikes done by the manufacturers in the past two months. A new report suggests that Samsung is now planning for another round of DRAM price hikes in the third quarter of 2026 as the demand continues to rise.
SurveyAs per the reports, Samsung Electronics is in discussions with customers to increase DRAM prices by up to 20 per cent compared to the previous quarter. And this comes at a time when the memory market remains under the mounting pressure from strong demand and limited supply. The industry sources also indicate that LPDDR memory, which is commonly used in smartphones, can witness even steeper increases due to supply shortages affecting both mobile devices and AI focused servers.
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The timing is also important. Memory is among the most important components inside modern smartphones. Any further increase in memory costs often translates into higher production costs for device makers, which can eventually be passed on to consumers through higher retail prices. And we have already seen this. Brands like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Nothing have already increased the prices of their mid-range devices.
And, according to the market research firm TrendForce, the DRAM supply will remain tight through the third quarter of 2026. While the demand from some consumer electronics categories has slowed, supply constraints are still expected to keep memory prices elevated. In any case, the prices are expected to rise between 13 and 18 per cent during the quarter it added.
But what after 2026? The memory manufacturers are signing long-term supply agreements with major customers. This will help the brands secure future supply and stabilise pricing, reducing the chances of a sharp market correction. Companies like Micron have revealed the long term agreements with the customers, while similar arrangements are now spreading to industries like automotive manufacturing.
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What should you do?
If you are thinking of upgrading your device, you should now. Because this trend simply means that flagship devices and even premium mid-range phones can get more expensive. Given the demand for AI features, the memory configurations, storage and RAM are going to be the hot topic for the industry for the next few years.
