Expensive memory will shake up the smartphone market
RAM problems
Analysts expect smartphone processor shipments to decline by 7% year-over-year. Rising memory prices are becoming a key challenge. Suppliers are currently focusing on producing expensive HBM modules for data centers. This limits the processing capacity of standard memories used in phones.
This will hit the cheapest devices segment the most. Smartphones costing less than $150 (approx. PLN 530) may be harder to obtain or more expensive. Manufacturers such as Samsung, Google and Xiaomi are in a better situation. Their own chip development departments allow them to better respond to these fluctuations. Companies relying solely on third-party providers for 4G and low-cost 5G will come under pressure.
Customers choose more expensive models
The smartphone market is changing its structure despite the decline in the number of units shipped. Every third phone sold in 2026 will be a premium model. This means a price of over $500 (approx. PLN 1,760). Customers are looking for devices with higher performance and better features.
Revenues from processor sales will increase by double digits. This is due to higher prices of the chips themselves and greater demand for advanced semiconductors. Apple and Qualcomm will gain the most from this trend. MediaTek is catching up and increasing the pressure in the Android ecosystem.
Samsung focuses on 2 nm
The year 2026 is also the beginning of an important technological transformation. Flagship chips will begin to migrate from the 3nm to 2nm process. Samsung has already announced the world’s first such processor for smartphones. It is Exynos 2600. This system will be included in the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
New lithography means higher performance and better energy efficiency. Most leading SoC vendors plan to implement this technology in their flagship products. This is an essential step in the development of mobile electronics. However, a full recovery in smartphone deliveries will not occur earlier than 2027.
Artificial intelligence in your pocket
The development of generative artificial intelligence is driving demand for more powerful components. The performance of NPU systems in top models will reach 100 TOPS. Almost 90% of premium smartphones will support AI features directly on the device.
Mid-range models will perform differently. Due to storage costs, phones priced between $100 and $500 will benefit from cloud-based AI. This will keep the price of the device lower while maintaining access to modern functions.
