Soaring RAM prices are set to hit the smartphone market hard, prompting Counterpoint to revise its 2026 outlook from flat growth to a 2.1% global market decline. Memory costs could rise another 40% by Q2 2026, pushing component costs sharply higher – already up 25% for low-end, 15% for mid-range and 10% for high-end phones.
As a result, most brands are expected to ship fewer devices, with Chinese OEMs like Oppo, vivo, Xiaomi and Honor facing the biggest impact. Apple and Samsung are better positioned to absorb the costs, while manufacturers are already cutting specs and reshaping lineups. Counterpoint now expects higher 2026 phone prices, with average selling prices rising 6.9%, as brands push consumers toward more premium models.
Source: GSMArena
