Recently, the latest research report released by Counterpoint shows that due to the shortage of AI chips, the average price of smartphones is expected to rise by 6.9% by 2026. This increase is almost twice the previous forecast of a 3.6% rise. At the same time, the report also indicates that smartphone sales will decline by about 2.1% in the next year. In the mobile phone industry, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is an essential component for efficient multitasking and smooth operating system performance.

As companies such as NVIDIA, AMD, and Qualcomm accelerate the construction of artificial intelligence data centers, demand for DRAM has surged. Because these data centers require large amounts of memory, the supply of DRAM cannot keep up with market demand. As a result, DRAM prices skyrocketed by 30% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and are expected to rise another 20% in early 2026.

This economic shift will have a profound impact on smartphone production. Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) face pressure to increase prices, and may reduce overall supply in 2026. However, major smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung will experience relatively limited short-term effects, as they have strong market influence and financial resources to cope with cost pressures.