If you are planning to buy a new smartphone or laptop in India, delaying that purchase could hit your wallet hard in 2026. Industry analysts are warning that a global RAM shortage is set to push device prices up by as much as 20–30% over the coming months, especially in budget and mid-range segments.
Why RAM is suddenly so expensive
RAM (Random Access Memory) used to be one of the most affordable components in a phone or PC, but that is quickly changing. Explosive demand from AI data centres, cloud providers, and high-performance servers is sucking up global memory supply, leaving fewer chips available for consumer devices like smartphones and laptops.
At the same time, major memory manufacturers are prioritising higher-margin enterprise and AI products, which further squeezes the supply of DRAM and mobile RAM used in everyday gadgets. As inventories thin out and contracts are renewed at higher rates, the cost of RAM has already jumped sharply and is expected to rise even more through 2026.
How this hits smartphone and laptop prices in India
For brands, RAM is a key part of the bill of materials, especially in devices that advertise 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB configurations as selling points. When RAM prices surge, manufacturers have only three real options: increase retail prices, cut back on RAM or other features, or delay launches of certain models.
Reports indicate that smartphones and laptops in India are likely to become significantly more expensive in the coming weeks and months, with price hikes in the range of 20–30% being discussed for 2026. Budget and mid-range buyers, particularly in the under ₹15,000 smartphone bracket and entry-level laptops, are expected to feel the most pain because brands have less room to absorb rising component costs in these segments.
What Indian consumers should do now
If you were already planning to upgrade within the next 6–9 months, advancing that purchase to early 2026 could save you a meaningful amount of money. Early adopters may still find some models at current prices before new inventory—priced with higher RAM costs—hits the shelves.
Here are a few practical strategies:
- Prioritise devices with sufficient RAM today so you do not need to upgrade again soon.
- Watch for clearance sales on 2025 stock, especially from large e-commerce players and offline retail chains.
- Consider refurbished or previous‑generation flagships, which may offer better value than brand‑new budget phones with cut‑down specifications.
Will prices ever come down?
Experts suggest that the RAM crunch could last at least until late 2026, with some forecasts extending the shortage into 2027 as AI-related demand keeps climbing. While prices may stabilise once new capacity comes online, there is no guarantee that they will fall back to pre‑shortage levels, especially if high-end memory continues to command strong demand.
For Indian buyers, this means treating smartphones and laptops less like disposable gadgets and more like long-term investments. Choosing a configuration that will comfortably last three to four years—rather than the cheapest possible option—could be the smarter financial move in a world where memory is no longer cheap.
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A global RAM shortage driven by AI and data centres is set to push smartphone and laptop prices in India up by 20–30% in 2026. Learn why costs are rising and how to time your purchase wisely.