Global RAM Shortage to Drive Smartphone Prices Higher, IDC Warns

ISLAMBAD: (Web Desk) – If you are planning to buy a new smartphone in the coming months, there is bad news: prices are expected to rise sharply.

A global shortage of RAM, which has already affected computers, is now set to hit the smartphone industry as well. According to a report by technology research firm IDC, the global smartphone market is expected to shrink by 12.9 percent in 2026.

The report warns that the smartphone industry is facing an unprecedented crisis. IDC noted that challenges such as US tariffs and even the COVID-19 pandemic appear minor compared to the current RAM shortage.

Due to these conditions, smartphone manufacturers may completely stop producing low-cost devices, forcing consumers to buy more expensive models. IDC said this is not a temporary change, but a long-term shift that will significantly reshape the smartphone market.

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The report further stated that no major improvement is expected before 2027, and even if RAM supply stabilizes by then, a return to previous smartphone prices is highly unlikely.

According to IDC, growing demand for advanced memory chips used in artificial intelligence will continue to strain RAM supplies next year as well, creating serious difficulties for many smartphone companies. The situation is expected to be particularly damaging for Android smartphone manufacturers.