What the smartphone memory chip crisis means for Samsung pricing
The smartphone memory chip crisis is a global shortage of RAM and storage components that is forcing phone makers to increase prices as production costs rise faster than they can absorb or offset elsewhere. For Samsung, this crisis has ended years of quietly absorbing memory cost shocks through minor optimisations and cost cutting. Reports describe a clear shift: Samsung is planning a Samsung phone price increase for its Galaxy S series, Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip devices, adding around €100 to some models and about the equivalent of USD 116 (approx. RM540) in certain markets. According to Mashable, these changes start with selected flagships and Fan Edition models and may spread further over time. The smartphone memory chip crisis is no longer a background problem; it is now visible in Samsung flagship pricing on store shelves.
How RAM cost shortages and AI demand are driving prices up
At the centre of the Samsung phone price increase is a RAM cost shortage: demand for DRAM and NAND memory is outpacing supply. Companies building AI data centres and services are buying vast amounts of memory, leaving fewer chips for smartphones and pushing prices higher. TechNave notes that global shortages of RAM and other materials, combined with tariffs, made a "significant contribution" to Samsung’s earlier price hikes. Rising component costs linked to AI-related hardware are now adding extra pressure. This is RAMageddon in practice: suppliers prioritise high-margin AI infrastructure, while phone makers compete for what is left. Because Samsung makes both phones and semiconductors, it is exposed on both sides of the supply chain. As long as AI infrastructure soaks up memory supply, the RAM cost shortage will keep the smartphone memory chip crisis alive and continue to weigh on Samsung flagship pricing.
Which Samsung phones are affected and how much prices are rising
Recent reports indicate that both premium and upper mid-range devices are feeling the impact of the smartphone memory chip crisis. TechManiacs, cited by Mashable, reports that Galaxy S series phones, Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold 7 devices, and Galaxy FE models are all set for a Samsung phone price increase of about the equivalent of USD 116 (approx. RM540) in one market, with higher storage variants facing even bigger jumps. GSMArena adds that Galaxy S models and the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 could see price tags rise by around €100. In parallel, TechNave highlights that Samsung had already raised Galaxy S26 prices earlier in the year due to RAM shortages and tariffs. Foldables and higher-storage models sit at the sharp end because they use more memory, making them especially sensitive to any RAM cost shortage.
What this means for future Samsung flagship pricing
Looking ahead, the outlook for Samsung flagship pricing is uneasy. TechNave reports that while there were hopes of keeping Galaxy S26 prices close to previous generations, another increase may still happen depending on market conditions. Premium foldables such as the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip ranges may be hit hardest because they pack high-capacity RAM and storage, which are precisely the parts affected by the smartphone memory chip crisis. Other brands are also nudging prices upward, signalling an industry-wide shift rather than an isolated Samsung phone price increase. Analysts expect the trend of rising flagship prices to continue as manufacturers chase AI features, better cameras, and larger batteries, all of which demand more memory. For consumers, this suggests that top-end models, including Ultra and upper mid-range devices, could keep climbing in cost as long as RAM cost shortages persist.
Should you buy now or wait for prices to stabilise?
For buyers, the RAM-driven Samsung phone price increase creates a clear dilemma. On one side, reports indicate that price hikes for Galaxy S, Z Fold, Z Flip, and FE devices are already planned or in effect, with Samsung having raised some prices earlier in the year and more changes possible around the next Galaxy Unpacked event. Mashable notes that the global memory shortage, widely linked to AI data centres, has already pushed other tech brands like Lenovo, Nintendo, and Dell to increase prices, and this trend could continue into 2027. Waiting might mean walking into even higher prices if RAM cost shortages worsen. Buying now could secure current pricing, but you might miss future improvements in AI features or efficiency. The safest strategy is to compare current discounts, storage needs, and your upgrade cycle, then decide whether price certainty today outweighs potential savings later.