No more 16GB phones, 4GB phones to return in 2026 due to memory crisis
As the global memory shortage due to AI demand continues to rear its ugly head, it seems that consumers next year will be seeing lower specced devices as manufacturers struggle to get enough memory for their products.
According to the research firm TrendForce, memory prices are expected to continue rising sharply in early 2026. As such, smartphone and laptop manufacturers in particular are set to increase prices while also reduce hardware specifications. TrendForce notes that Android smartphone brands that typically target the mid- to low-end segments may be hit the hardest by the memory crisis, as smartphone memory has in recent years become a crucial marketing differentiator.
Entry level devices will likely go back to 4GB RAM, while midrange smartphones will top out at 8GB of RAM. Even smartphones on the high end are expected to come with less RAM next year, with TrendForce noting that smartphone makers will likely put a stop on plans on adding up to 16GB of RAM onto their high end models next year.
On top of that, TrendForce also expects to see more price fluctuations in the laptop market by the second quarter of next year. Premium ultralight laptops will likely be the first to fall to price pressure as they have soldered memory, making it hard for manufacturers to lower specifications on the fly. Copilot+ PCs also come with strict memory requirements, while midrange laptops may start to shift towards more 8GB models next year.
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