Danny Weber
21:40 15-12-2025
© A. Krivonosov
A global memory chip shortage is reshaping smartphone RAM. Expect fewer 16 GB and 12 GB phones, with 6–8 GB the new norm—and budget models returning to 4 GB.
Not long ago, 16 GB of RAM was seen as the new benchmark for flagship smartphones, but the market is shifting fast. According to industry sources, as soon as next year such devices could become scarce, while the budget tier may once again see models with 4 GB of RAM.
The driver is a global shortage of memory chips and a sharp rise in their prices. Smartphone makers are already choosing between raising prices and trimming specs. The first route doesn’t work everywhere: in price‑sensitive markets, brands more often cut memory capacity than push up the sticker.
As a result, phones with 12 GB of RAM are expected to lose ground—their share could fall by about 40%. Filling the gap, 6 GB and 8 GB devices are poised to become the new compromise standard. Meanwhile, 16 GB models will roll out less often and remain a fixture of pricey flagships.
The real shock to the mobile business comes from the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Data centers are snapping up high‑speed memory—HBM and GDDR5 DRAM—which is shifting production capacity toward server‑grade parts. In this fight for resources, smartphones are clearly not at the front of the line.
The upshot for users could feel like a step back: less memory, more cautious refresh cycles, and slower progress across mid‑range and budget phones. And if the shortage persists, seeing new devices with 4 GB of RAM could once again become standard practice.