US EditionAI Demand Drives Memory Chip Price Rise and Cuts Consumer Device Sales in 2026
AI infrastructure demand has driven memory chip prices up by 40-50% in Q1 2026, causing a projected decline in global smartphone, PC, and console sales, analysts said.
- Jan 22: Global demand for smartphones, personal computers and gaming consoles is expected to shrink this year as companies from Britain's Raspberry Pi to HP Inc raise sticker prices to offset surging memory chip costs.
- Chipmakers such as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron said in recent months that U.S. AI build-outs by OpenAI, Alphabet-owned Google and Microsoft have absorbed much of the memory supply, with Bonadero stating, 'We expect to see more of what we saw towards the end of '25 with pricing volatility.'
- Counterpoint forecasts memory prices will jump 40 per cent to 50 per cent in Q1 after last year's 50 per cent surge, while memory chips could rise to 35 per cent to 40 per cent of a PC's materials cost.
- Manufacturers face a trade-off to absorb costs or raise prices, as Jacob Bourne said, 'Manufacturers might absorb some costs but given the scale of the shortage, it is certainly going to show up as higher prices for consumers,' which could weaken sales at Best Buy.
- RAM prices are expected to persist throughout the year, with Morningstar analyst William Kerwin saying Apple is better-positioned due to contract pricing but may still face price pressure in Q1 2026.
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Memory chip shortage threatens global smartphone and PC markets
Global demand for smartphones, personal computers and gaming consoles is expected to shrink this year as companies from Britain's Raspberry Pi (RPI.L) to HP Inc (HPQ.N) raise sticker prices to offset surging memory chip costs. The rapid build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure by US tech firms such as OpenAI, Alphabet-owned (GOOGL.O) Google and Microsoft has absorbed much of the world's memory chip supply, pushing up prices as manufac…
As Memory Chip Prices Soar On Relentless AI Demand, Consumer Electronics Makers Feel The Squeeze: Chip Stocks Soar - Samsung Electronics Co (OTC:SSNLF)
Demand from AI data centers has led to a surge in memory chip prices, taking a toll on sales, margins of leading consumer electronics makers.
Surging memory chip prices dim outlook for consumer electronics makers
Global demand for smartphones, personal computers and gaming consoles is expected to shrink this year as companies from Britain's Raspberry Pi to HP Inc raise sticker prices to offset surging memory chip costs.
Memory Chip Crunch Could Squeeze Mac Production in Early 2026
Global memory chip prices and supply are on the move — and that movement could reach all the way into Mac production in early 2026. Memory chips like DRAM and NAND flash are essential for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and nearly every modern electronic device. But with rising demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and a reallocation of manufacturing capacity toward high-bandwidth memory for data centers, memory supply for traditional consume…
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