RAMpocalypse continues Apple and Samsung benefit as memory shortage pushes smartphone shipments to historic lows The biggest smartphone makers keep on trucking in the face of component shortages and economic uncertainty. Ryan Whitwam – Jul 13, 2026 1:18 pm | 3 Credit: Ryan Whitwam Credit: Ryan Whitwam Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Smartphone shipments started to plateau a few years back, ending the days of guaranteed double-digit growth for any company that wanted to make phones. Fewer smartphone manufacturers exist today, and they’re facing new pressure in the age of AI. A new report claims that smartphone shipments cratered 11 percent in the last quarter. Some are weathering the storm better than others, though. According to Counterpoint , this substantial drop brings smartphone shipments to their lowest second-quarter level since 2013.
Analysts place the blame for this drop squarely on the increasing price of DRAM and NAND chips. Manufacturers have largely shifted to supporting the AI computing boom, which leaves fewer components for consumer devices like smartphones and PCs. As prices climb higher, fewer people are interested in buying new phones. This problem has been particularly vexing for people who are happy to purchase budget devices.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/apple-and-samsung-benefit-as-memory-shortage-pushes-smartphone-shipments-to-historic-lows/
Analysts place the blame for this drop squarely on the increasing price of DRAM and NAND chips. Manufacturers have largely shifted to supporting the AI computing boom, which leaves fewer components for consumer devices like smartphones and PCs. As prices climb higher, fewer people are interested in buying new phones. This problem has been particularly vexing for people who are happy to purchase budget devices.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/apple-and-samsung-benefit-as-memory-shortage-pushes-smartphone-shipments-to-historic-lows/