Rising memory costs are putting pressure on smartphone makers, but they do not mean every iPhone or Samsung Galaxy will rise by the same amount—or that a price increase is certain in your market. The clearest likely effects are pressure on retail prices and on the memory configurations available, especially in lower-cost phones. Forecasts point to a more expensive 2026, while observed Q1 data show capacity changes already vary by price tier.
Why are phones getting more expensive?
Smartphones use two different kinds of memory. DRAM is working memory that helps a phone run apps; NAND is storage for apps, photos, videos and other files. If the cost of either rises, manufacturers face higher component costs and may need to reconsider a phone’s price or configuration. The reviewed sources discuss pressure on both components but do not provide an official Apple-versus-Samsung breakdown of their memory costs. TrendForce’s December 2025 analysis described memory price increases expected in the first quarter of 2026, alongside pressure on device makers.
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Demand from AI infrastructure and servers is competing for memory supply, according to the market commentary in this source set. The available figures do not establish how much of any smartphone price change is caused specifically by AI demand, so it is better to treat that as part of the supply-and-demand picture rather than a precise explanation for a particular phone’s price.
What the 2026 forecasts say—and what they do not
Gartner’s February 26, 2026 forecast estimated that combined DRAM and SSD prices would rise 130% by the end of 2026 compared with 2025. Gartner also forecast a 13% increase in smartphone prices and an 8.4% decline in smartphone shipments in 2026 versus 2025. These are Gartner forecasts, not final measured results, and the component figure refers to DRAM and SSD prices rather than a published smartphone-specific bill of materials. Read Gartner’s forecast and qualifications.
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Omdia reported a different kind of figure: global smartphone shipments edged up 0.5% year over year in Q1 2026. That observed quarter is not directly comparable with Gartner’s forecast for the full calendar year. Omdia also reported that total DRAM and NAND capacities in smartphones rose 6.1% and 10.7%, respectively, in Q1. It linked storage growth in part to higher-resolution cameras and users’ photos and videos, with capacity increases concentrated in higher-end devices. See Omdia’s Q1 capacity analysis.
Will Apple or Samsung raise phone prices?
There is no reliable, like-for-like Apple-versus-Samsung retail price comparison in the available figures. A fair comparison needs the same country and currency, official unlocked prices, a consistent date, equivalent storage tiers, memory configurations where disclosed, and equivalent promotion status. Without those details, a claim that one brand raised a specific model’s price more than the other would be unsupported.
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TrendForce’s August 7, 2026 public summary says Apple’s next-generation flagship faced a sharp bill-of-materials increase and that Apple raised retail prices in response. The summary does not identify the market, exact price change, matched previous-generation model or full assumptions. It is an analyst assessment about a particular product cycle, not proof that every iPhone will cost more in every region. Read TrendForce’s summary.
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Samsung and other Android makers
TrendForce describes the Android camp—particularly lower-margin makers—as more exposed to retail-price pressure because they have less room to absorb component costs. That does not prove every Samsung Galaxy will rise more than every iPhone: the assessment does not supply matched regional prices for equivalent models and storage tiers.
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Counterpoint Research’s December 16, 2025 analysis described Apple and Samsung as better positioned than some brands to weather near-term cost pressure. That earlier assessment offers context about relative resilience, not evidence of final 2026 prices. Read Counterpoint’s analysis.
Will cheaper phones have less memory?
That is a plausible outcome, but the market effect is not uniform. Omdia reported that in Q1 2026 low- and mid-range phones faced capacity freezes or reductions, or fewer high-capacity variants, while premium devices continued to add memory. Its reported global average for the quarter was 8.3 GB of DRAM and 279 GB of NAND storage. Those averages do not describe every model or price tier. Omdia’s analysis explains the tier differences.
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Before buying, compare the exact RAM and storage configuration, not just a model name. A phone may be sold in several storage tiers, and the available evidence does not establish that a particular manufacturer has reduced a particular phone’s specification. TrendForce’s December 2025 analysis had forecast that some low-end phones might return to 4 GB base memory configurations; that was a forecast at the time, not confirmation of a market-wide change. See the original forecast context.
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There is no basis here for panic-buying. Forecasts can change, and the sources do not establish what future models will cost in a particular country. If your current phone still meets your needs, waiting for confirmed specifications and official local prices is reasonable. If you need a replacement now, compare the current price with the predecessor at the same storage tier and check whether a promotion or carrier subsidy is affecting the apparent difference.
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For a used or refurbished device, compare the savings with its remaining update support and battery condition. Gartner identifies longer device lifetimes and refurbished or second-hand purchases as possible responses to higher prices; these are forecast scenarios, not proof that buyers have already changed behavior. Gartner’s forecast discusses those potential responses.
How phone makers can respond to higher memory costs
Manufacturers have several options besides passing the full increase on as a higher sticker price. TrendForce’s December 2025 analysis outlined possible responses including changing specifications, adjusting existing models’ prices or lifecycles, and reducing or postponing upgrades. These were anticipated responses, not a confirmed list of actions taken by every brand.
The practical effect may therefore differ by phone and price tier: a buyer could encounter a higher price, fewer high-capacity choices, a configuration change, or no obvious change. Omdia’s Q1 2026 findings indicate that capacity trends already differed between lower- and higher-priced devices, while Gartner’s full-year figures remain forecasts.
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