AI Demand Triggers Memory Shortage That Could Push Phone Prices Up 8% and Delay Consoles
A severe memory shortage driven by AI data center construction is reshaping consumer electronics. RAM prices have tripled to sextupled in months, forcing smartphone makers to raise prices by up to 8%, console manufacturers to delay launches until 2028-2029, and hardware vendors to shrink price quote windows. Cloud providers plan over $600 billion in capital expenditures, intensifying the supply crisis.