Smartphone market faces growing instability as memory prices surge

The global smartphone market is entering a rough phase in early 2026. A sharp and sustained rise in memory chip prices is starting to reshape how brands plan, launch, and even cancel phones. According to multiple industry signals, a new development that was unprecedented is unfolding. Let’s get into this article, where I will discuss everything about the current smartphone market turmoil, including memory pricing pressure, product delays, and how brands are responding.

Why Smartphone Prices Are Increasing in 2026?

The Problem

The main trigger appears to be LPDDR memory pricing. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, suppliers have raised prices aggressively, in some cases by as much as 100 percent. Samsung and SK Hynix are repeatedly mentioned as the key players behind these hikes.

And following that, mid-range phones are taking the first hit. The most vulnerable segment sits between CNY 2,000 and 2,500, and this is also where margins are already thin. Several models launched in late 2025 are now at risk of being pulled from shelves early. Similarly, some are even being quietly discontinued. 

But flagship devices are not immune either. Multiple next-generation phones have reportedly entered development limbo. In some cases, development has paused entirely, with internal teams unsure whether the numbers still make sense. Even Apple is feeling the pressure. While it has more leverage than most brands, it still depends on the same memory suppliers. Price hikes from Samsung and SK Hynix seem to have affected Apple’s cost structure too, especially for storage-heavy configurations.

What’s next?

The impact goes well beyond rising bill of materials costs. According to many reports, now launch schedules are slipping, with smartphone companies delaying the launch as much as possible. And because of that, product roadmaps are also being rewritten mid-cycle. And hence, companies are increasingly convinced that these new phone launches are going to be a massive financial risk for them. 

Some brands are reportedly pausing work on next-gen flagships altogether, while others are reportedly considering exiting certain regional markets to cut potential losses. Needless to say, the mood has shifted from aggressive expansion to absolute damage control.

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Pricing and Storage 

And if this might not be already obvious, one could find real-time confirmation just by checking on discounts. Yes, discounts are also quietly disappearing from everywhere, especially on smartphones and laptops. Early Snapdragon 8 Elite phones that once launched with aggressive offers are now seeing those discounts reduced or removed entirely.

Meanwhile, storage tiers are changing as well. The price gap between the 256GB and 512GB variants has crossed CNY 400. Meanwhile, 1TB variants are becoming so rare, and in some cases, they are disappearing from lineups altogether.

Conclusion

Overall, it seems like 2026 is already going to be apretty rough year for smartphone makers and most particularly their consumers. And when technological progress has already picked up low hanging fruits, we’re probably going to see less innovation this year. But a question: which brands will still be standing once the shakeout is over?

• Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 15