The escalation in smartphone prices is preparing to enter a new phase, marked by increases that could take top equipment to values never seen before, in a context in which artificial intelligence is putting serious pressure on the global component chain. The central theme is the scarcity of essential resources, with a direct impact on production costs and, inevitably, the final price for the consumer.
The technology sector is facing what several analysts classify as the biggest increase in hardware costs in the last 26 years. Unlike other phases of increasing prices, the origin of the problem is not an innovation visible to the user, but rather the pressure exerted on critical components, especially RAM memory.
The massive demand for computing capacity to power data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence is absorbing a large part of the world’s memory production. This imbalance between supply and demand is causing a domino effect across the entire consumer electronics industry, including smartphones, tablets and computers, according to technology portal Pplware.
A recent analysis summarizes the moment experienced by the sector by stating that “the technology industry is experiencing an increase in component prices because supply is being devoured by new AI data centers”. The same forecasts indicate that this trend should continue until at least 2027, ruling out the possibility of short-term relief.
Internal tensions and difficult decisions in big tech
The seriousness of the situation is already beginning to have a direct impact on the internal strategies of large companies. Google, for example, adopted strict measures in its management structure after failures to guarantee RAM memory stocks for its devices in a timely manner.
According to industry reports, a senior executive was dismissed for being unable to secure the necessary supply, leading the company to now look for specialists directly in South Korea, with the aim of stabilizing its supply chain, according to the same source.
Samsung also faces a delicate scenario in preparing the future Galaxy S26 series. The South Korean manufacturer is carefully evaluating how to maintain competitive prices in a context of rising costs.
Among the hypotheses on the table is the possibility of moderating hardware improvements in the base models, including components such as cameras, to prevent final prices from becoming too high for the average consumer.
Early releases and strategy adjustments
Other brands are reacting differently. Xiaomi chose to bring forward the launch of some top models, in an attempt to escape the peak of this component crisis and reduce the direct impact on prices.
This approach reveals the growing concern of manufacturers to protect margins and, at the same time, maintain the attractiveness of their products in an increasingly price-sensitive market.
Expected impact on the Apple ecosystem
In the Apple universe, the scenario is no longer encouraging. With the development of the iPhone 18 and future generations already underway, estimates point to a significant increase in production costs in the coming years, says the same source.
Recent rumors indicate that an eventual foldable iPhone could reach prices in the order of 2400 dollars, around 2040 euros. Although it is a niche product, this number clearly illustrates the new price range that is beginning to emerge in the premium segment.
What to expect in the coming years
Given this context, analysts outline a prudent scenario for the consumer. The combination of RAM shortages, heavy investment in artificial intelligence and pressure on supply chains suggests that high prices are here to stay.
For those planning to change smartphones in the short term, the market reading is clear. The currently available models may represent a more balanced opportunity in terms of price, as there is no guarantee that next year’s launches will maintain similar values, according to .
With the industry going through a phase of profound readjustment, everything indicates that the consumer will have to get used to a new reality, where cutting-edge technology will have an increasingly higher and less predictable cost.
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