Memory Chip Prices Could Rise Again as AI Demand Keeps Pressure on Laptops, Phones, and GPUs
Memory prices are showing no signs of returning to their old lows, and that could mean more expensive laptops, smartphones, graphics cards, and other consumer electronics in the months ahead.
Lenovo recently suggested that memory chip prices may not fall back to previous levels, and fresh supply chain reports appear to support that warning. Samsung Electronics is reportedly preparing another increase in DRAM prices, with average selling prices expected to climb by around 20% as early as this quarter.
Industry sources in Asia claim that Samsung has already given verbal notice to some customers about the planned price adjustment. The move is not believed to be isolated, either. The broader South Korean memory industry is reportedly pushing for a similar 20% quarter-over-quarter increase in general-purpose DRAM prices.
The main driver behind the surge is the ongoing boom in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data centers are consuming huge volumes of advanced memory, especially high-bandwidth memory used in AI servers. As manufacturers focus more capacity on high-margin AI memory products, supply for standard consumer memory remains tight.
This has created growing concern across the electronics market. Samsung and SK Hynix are already facing legal scrutiny over allegations that they prioritized more profitable AI memory while consumer memory supply became increasingly constrained.
The scale of the price jump is significant. Samsung’s average DRAM selling price reportedly climbed by more than 90% in the first quarter of the year, followed by another increase of around 50% in the second quarter. A further 20% rise in the third quarter would come on top of an already much higher price base.
For consumers, the biggest issue is that these increases are now reaching store shelves. Devices that rely heavily on memory, such as gaming laptops, premium ultrabooks, flagship smartphones, and graphics cards, are likely to become more expensive. Some major electronics brands have already started raising prices, arguing that they can no longer absorb the higher cost of components.
Market analysts expect DRAM supply to remain limited during the current quarter. While overall contract price growth may slow slightly due to weaker demand, DRAM prices are still expected to rise by roughly 13% to 18%. NAND flash memory, used in SSDs and smartphone storage, is also forecast to increase by around 10% to 15%.
Certain mobile memory chips, including 8GB LPDDR5X components used in smartphones and compact devices, could see price increases of around 20% in the third quarter. That would put more pressure on phone makers and could contribute to higher retail prices for upcoming models.
The timing is especially difficult for buyers. Many consumers are already delaying upgrades due to rising device prices, inflation, and slower year-to-year improvements in phones and PCs. If memory costs continue climbing, demand could weaken further. Analysts project that smartphone shipments may fall sharply in 2026, with some estimates pointing to an 11% decline.
The outlook is clear: memory-heavy devices are unlikely to get cheaper anytime soon. As AI data center demand continues to absorb supply, consumer electronics brands may have little choice but to pass higher component costs on to buyers. Anyone planning to buy a new laptop, gaming PC, flagship phone, or GPU in the second half of 2026 may face higher prices than expected.
