Smartphone market set for biggest-ever decline in 2026 on memory price surge, IDC says - Reuters
Smartphone market set for biggest-ever decline in 2026 on memory price surge, IDC says Reuters
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Notable Quotes
"The smartphone market will witness a seismic shift by the time this crisis is over -- in size, average selling prices and competitive landscape."
— Nabila Popal , Executive
"Memory price increases had a minimal impact on Apple's gross margin during the 2025 holiday quarter."
— Tim Cook , Executive
"The memory crisis will cause more than a temporary decline; it marks a structural reset of the entire market."
— Nabila Popal , Executive
"Brands now face a simple choice: raise prices by 30% or more in some cases, or downgrade specs."
— Carl Pei , Executive
"What we are witnessing is not a temporary squeeze, but a tsunami-like shock originating in the memory supply chain."
— Francisco Jeronimo , Academic
"The memory crisis will cause more than a temporary decline; it marks a structural reset of the entire market."
— Nabila Popal , Executive
Key People
Co-founder and CEO of Nothing.
Francisco Jeronimo is a tech analyst for the International Data Corporation.
Nabila Popal is the Senior Research Director at IDC.
Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple Inc., known for leading the company through significant product innovations and expansions.
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<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxQblY1U2lMWDY2VndTT3VpY0dIank4US1GRXlmV2FRTHFGS0ZPdFdEWkhvOEFYMlNKNFFWQ29QZUYzTGJVUS1OZmRqUm1Hdlpud0N0UnR1dVNqbkhLTDZCeVlaVDdQNWQyUmw4R0RaRGNGd1VxS2w4OUtZZ0puQkZIOVJub2VFd1R6dkFaNXc0WU85UGZpVDZmN1Bwcm92VHk4ek5HTktISFVLLVZJYXVudXczeEx4eXYtN3VtS3VvQnltWTlnRDlqLWZYOFktSmM?oc=5" target="_blank">Smartphone market set for biggest-ever decline in 2026 on memory price surge, IDC says</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
A rise in AI demand is causing a massive RAM shortage, leading to a projected 12.9% decline in smartphone shipments in 2026, marking the biggest dip in over a decade.
Gartner projects a 10.4% decline in PC shipments and an 8.4% decline in smartphone shipments in 2026 due to soaring memory costs, with entry-level PCs disappearing by 2028.
The global smartphone market is projected to decline by 12.9% in 2026, reaching a decade-low in shipments, due to surging memory chip prices driven by AI infrastructure demand.
The global smartphone market will contract 12.9% in 2026 because of the unprecedented memory chip shortage, marking 'a crisis like no other,' according to researcher IDC.
A global DRAM shortage is expected to lead to a 13% drop in smartphone sales in 2026, with Apple being less affected due to its focus on premium devices.
The global smartphone market is poised to suffer its biggest decline ever in 2026, sinking to a more than decade low in shipments, as surging memory chip prices drive up device costs.
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