Smartphones to pack more RAM despite AI-fueled shortage lasting through 2027

Your next phone might have more RAM as AI-fueled shortage persists through 2027

The ongoing memory (RAM) shortage has wide-reaching effects, but that's not stopping new smartphones from apparently adding more RAM than prior generations, a new report states. AI is hungry for a lot of resources, but memory is one of the biggest, and it's led to a scramble for everything to need more RAM. As such, there's been a huge shortage of memory in the tech industry, leading to prices jumping and shortages as production simply cannot keep up with demand. That's not stopping anytime soon, ETNews says. In a report, the Korean publication notes that forecasts suggest the ongoing DRAM shortage will continue "until next year" at least, with problems persisting through 2027. That's in part due to a lack of supply and production capacity. Samsung, for instance, is looking to expand its production facility, but is focused on "High Bandwidth Memory" that is used in larger AI applications versus consumer-focused devices. Meanwhile, China-based CXMT is looking to expand production, but is focused on the Chinese market rather than the global one, meaning there will still be a shortage of memory. Despite this, demand is still rising, and estimated to be around 23% higher in 2026 (via @Jukanlosreve). That's mostly because, while data centers, automobiles, and smartphones, among other devices, are looking to add more memory per device compared to prior years. Data centers are looking at a 25% jump, automobiles a 36% jump, and smartphones around 16%. PCs would also apparently go up by 15%. In other words, your next smartphone is probably going to have a bit more RAM, all thanks to the continued focus on "on-device AI," the report brings out. In most devices, that not a huge difference, but assuming we're talking about 16% being an average, it could be that more flagship smartphones jump from 8GB or 12GB of RAM up to 16GB, with fewer budget-focused devices equipped with 4GB of RAM and instead moving to 6GB or 8GB setups. That's speculation on our part, of course, but the report's claim of memory allotments in smartphones certainly makes a lot of sense. Google, for instance, has been equipping Pixel phones with more RAM than other devices at the same price point for the sake of on-device AI capabilities. With the price volatility in memory right now, though, that focus on adding more RAM to your next smartphone might also end up driving up the cost, something our Will Sattelberg brought out over the weekend. What do you think about this shift?

New phones may get more RAM despite global AI-fueled shortage

The current DRAM shortage is expected to last "until next year" and could continue causing issues through 2027. The global memory shortage is creating problems across the tech world, but it seems like it is not stopping smartphone makers from adding more RAM to new devices. A new report suggests that future phones will likely ship with higher memory amounts, even as supplies remain tight and prices increase. Artificial intelligence is a major reason for today's memory crunch. AI features need large amounts of RAM to work smoothly, especially when tasks are handled directly on a device instead of in the cloud. As more companies push AI into everyday products, demand for memory has grown faster than manufacturers can keep up with. According to a report from Korean outlet ETNews, the current DRAM shortage is expected to last "until next year" and could continue causing issues through 2027. The main problem is limited production capacity. Major chip makers are not increasing output fast enough to meet rising needs. Also read: Samsung teases new privacy display feature for Galaxy S26: Here's how it works Samsung, one of the world's largest memory producers, is expanding production but is focusing more on high-bandwidth memory. This type of memory is mainly used in powerful servers and large AI systems, not in consumer devices like phones. At the same time, Chinese company CXMT is also growing its memory production, but its supply is aimed mostly at China, not the global market. This means worldwide shortages are likely to remain. Estimates suggest overall memory demand could grow by about 23 percent in 2026, reports 9To5Google. Data centers are expected to increase their memory use by around 25 percent, while automobiles may jump by 36 percent. Smartphones are also part of this trend, with memory per device projected to rise by roughly 16 percent. PCs are said to be close behind with a 15 percent increase. Also read: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL price drops by over Rs 13,500 on Amazon: How to grab this deal For consumers, this could mean noticeable changes in future phones. Many high-end models may move from 8GB or 12GB of RAM to up to 16GB, the report states. Cheaper phones may also shift away from 4GB setups and instead offer 6GB or 8GB. This increase is closely linked to the push for on-device AI. Some brands are already doing this. Google, for example, has been adding more RAM to Pixel phones than rivals at similar prices to support its AI tools. However, with memory prices jumping due to shortages, adding more RAM could also make future smartphones more expensive.