Mobile DRAM prices are still climbing in 2Q26, and this one matters even if you are not the type who checks memory market charts for fun.
According to TrendForce’s latest memory market research, smartphone brands are facing heavier cost pressure as contract prices for mobile DRAM continue to rise. In plain English: the RAM inside your phone is getting more expensive for manufacturers, and that can affect what phones get made, how many units reach stores, and what kind of specs brands are willing to offer.
For Malaysian and SEA buyers, this is the part to watch. Our market is super sensitive to value. A phone that launches at the right RM price with enough RAM can become a Shopee/Lazada favourite overnight. But if memory costs spike too hard, brands may have to make uncomfortable choices: raise prices, reduce margins, ship fewer units, or cut back on higher-RAM variants.
LPDDR4X and LPDDR5X prices are both surging
TrendForce estimates that average selling prices for LPDDR4X solutions will rise by at least 70% to 75% quarter-on-quarter in 2Q26. LPDDR5X is expected to jump even higher, with a projected increase of 78% to 83% quarter-on-quarter.
That is a massive move for a component used across modern smartphones. LPDDR4X is still relevant in lower-cost and older-platform devices, while LPDDR5X is commonly tied to newer, faster phones. So this is not just a flagship problem. It can hit entry-level, mid-range, and premium devices in different ways.
The mid-range segment could be the most painful one for Malaysia. This is where buyers expect a lot: 8GB or 12GB RAM, decent storage, good battery, strong camera, and gaming performance that can handle Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, or whatever the current gacha grind is. If RAM pricing keeps squeezing brands, the RM799 to RM1,699 zone may see tougher compromises.
Samsung and SK hynix may be taking different approaches
TrendForce says the two major Korean suppliers appear to be using different pricing strategies.
Samsung Electronics is reportedly taking a more aggressive one-step pricing approach, meaning sharper increases are being pushed through more directly. SK hynix, based on preliminary quotations, seems to be moving with a more gradual price-raising strategy and milder hikes. Final pricing from SK hynix is expected to be completed in late May.
Either way, the overall direction is clear: mobile DRAM is not cheap right now, and smartphone makers have to plan around that.
Why this could affect 2026 phone launches
TrendForce notes that several straight quarters of steep price increases have already made cost burdens much heavier for smartphone vendors. Because of that, brands are expected to reduce total smartphone production in 2026.
There is another issue too. Some brands may struggle to meet the bit procurement volumes they agreed to under long-term agreements or memorandums of understanding arranged with suppliers at the end of last year. Basically, companies may have promised to buy certain memory volumes, but higher costs and weaker production plans could make those commitments harder to fulfil.
For consumers, the impact may not show up as one dramatic headline price hike. It could be more subtle: fewer 12GB RAM models, less aggressive promo pricing, smaller restocks, delayed launches, or brands pushing more expensive configurations while quietly dropping the best-value ones.
If you are planning to buy a phone in 2026, especially a gaming-focused mid-ranger, RAM configuration is worth watching closely. The sweet spot may shift, and the “best deal” phone might not stay available for long if brands cut production.
Source: TechPowerUp