What the RAM supply crunch means for Samsung flagship phone pricing
The RAM supply crisis in smartphones is a global shortage of memory chips and related components that is driving up production costs and forcing manufacturers, including Samsung, to reconsider flagship phone pricing and pass some of those higher RAM costs on to consumers through noticeable price increases. For years, Samsung and its rivals absorbed higher memory prices by trimming costs elsewhere, but reports now indicate that this buffer is disappearing. Greek outlet TechManiacs, cited by multiple tech sites, reports that Samsung will increase prices on Galaxy S series, Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Galaxy FE models starting in June, with rises of around €100 or roughly the equivalent of USD 116 (approx. RM535) in that market. While this move is local for now, analysts warn that the same RAM cost shortage is affecting smartphone makers worldwide, suggesting that a broader Samsung price increase on future flagships is likely.
How tariffs and supply chains are amplifying the Samsung price increase
RAM is not the only pressure point behind higher flagship phone pricing. Samsung has pointed to a combination of global material shortages and smartphone tariffs as key reasons why it can no longer keep prices flat. In a statement earlier this year, the company told The Verge that worldwide shortages of RAM and other materials, combined with tariffs, made a “significant contribution” to its latest price hike. Those costs stack on top of the memory crunch, so even if RAM prices stabilise, shipping, logistics, and tariff-related expenses keep the overall bill high. Because Samsung operates huge semiconductor and smartphone businesses, it is exposed to disruptions at every stage of the supply chain. The result is less room to absorb rising costs internally and more pressure to push at least part of those increases into retail prices for upcoming Galaxy S and Galaxy Z devices.
AI boom and RAM cost shortage: why phones compete with data centres
The RAM cost shortage is deeply connected to the AI boom. As data centres expand to run AI services, they consume large amounts of DRAM and NAND memory, directly competing with smartphone production for limited supply. According to industry reports cited by Technave and Mashable, this surge in AI infrastructure demand is one of the biggest reasons behind current and potential Samsung price increases. Samsung is both a memory supplier and a phone maker, so when AI buyers bid up chip prices, its mobile division feels the impact in component costs. Other tech brands such as Lenovo, Nintendo and Dell have already raised prices on devices due to the same global memory shortage, and analysts expect this trend to continue for several years. That means the RAM supply crunch is an industry-wide problem, and one that extends far beyond a single flagship phone launch.
Which Samsung devices are affected and when increases may hit
Early signs of a broader Samsung price increase are already visible. Reports from Greece say Galaxy S series models, Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Galaxy FE handsets will all see higher prices, with hikes of about €100 or roughly USD 116 (approx. RM535), and possibly larger rises for higher-storage variants. Mashable notes that Samsung has already applied slight price increases to the Galaxy S26 lineup in the US earlier this year, while some Motorola models have seen even sharper jumps. Technave adds that the Galaxy S26 series may still face another adjustment, depending on component costs closer to launch, and that Samsung’s premium foldables are especially vulnerable. With the next Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for July, more flagship phone pricing changes could appear quickly if RAM costs and AI hardware demand remain elevated.
What consumers should do before the next wave of flagship phone pricing
For buyers, the key message is timing. Consumers should expect Samsung price increases on upcoming flagship models as RAM costs stay high and smartphone tariffs and supply bottlenecks persist. Sources indicate that while Samsung tried to protect customers from earlier waves of memory inflation, the current RAM cost shortage and AI-driven demand leave less room to shield retail prices. If you are considering a Galaxy S, Galaxy Ultra, or a foldable like the Z Fold or Z Flip, it may be wise to compare current prices with likely near-term hikes, especially on higher-storage models that rely on more RAM and NAND. Since the memory chip crunch is affecting the entire industry, switching brands may not avoid increases either. Instead, focus on buying at promotional periods, weighing last-generation flagships, and deciding how much AI hardware and storage you actually need.