
The smartphone industry could experience a record-breaking decline in 2026 as a result of the RAM shortage stemming from memory-hungry AI giants. That’s according to the latest report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), which forecasts smartphone shipments to plummet 12.9 percent this year, marking its « lowest annual shipment volume in more than a decade. »
At the same time, the average selling price for smartphones is set to hit new highs, with IDC predicting a 14 percent increase to a record $523. « While memory prices are projected to stabilize by mid-2027, they are unlikely to return to previous level, » IDC senior researcher Na …