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AI Boom Drives RAM Shortage, Threatening PC Sales and Console Launches
Micron forecasts memory shortages driven by AI data center demand will last beyond 2026, causing PC shipments to drop nearly 9% and smartphone prices to rise up to 8%, IDC reports.
- On Wednesday, Micron Technology's Sanjay Mehrotra said tight DRAM and NAND flash memory conditions will persist through and beyond 2026 as AI boosts demand, reporting record revenue of $13.64 billion and earnings per share of $4.78.
- AI data‑center build‑outs have driven a sharp increase in memory demand, as major makers shifted production to high‑bandwidth memory and Micron shuttered Crucial, reducing consumer DRAM supply.
- Analysts note IDC projects smartphone prices could rise six to eight percent, PC shipments may shrink 8.9 percent next year, and server-makers could raise prices by up to 15 percent.
- Major brands including Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus and Acer have confirmed price increases, and Micron said memory shortages may affect PC shipments next year with costs rising soon.
- IDC projects NAND and DRAM shortages will continue into 2027 while Micron's new fabs start production in 2026 and 2027; Francisco Jeronimo said, `In 2026, entry-level and mid-range smartphones may revert to 4GB RAM configurations to preserve price in price-sensitive markets.
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Four major companies get priority from memory suppliers as shortage hits PC brands
Memory prices are soaring as much as four to five times year-over-year. PC brand vendors that were originally expected to gradually finalize supply contracts with memory makers by the end of the third quarter of 2025 have, as of year-end, not had a single contract fully signed. Suppliers are tight on supply and unwilling to sign, and prices are also lacking consensus. Memory makers still have capacity, but demand far exceeds supply. Therefore, b…
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Total News Sources95
Leaning Left9Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Left
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
47% Left
L 47%
C 42%
11%
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