Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor division reportedly wants to raise prices for smartphone DRAM and NAND memory by 7% to 10%, according to Korean publication Sisa Journal e. These memory types are used to manufacture RAM and storage in smartphones and many other devices.
Negotiations with Chinese smartphone manufacturers are already underway. Samsung is also expected to seek new pricing terms with Apple during the fourth quarter, between October and December.
Samsung’s own smartphone business will reportedly face the same increases because its semiconductor DS division and device-focused DX division operate separately.
Apple could have considerable bargaining power. Analysts estimate that the company buys roughly twice as much smartphone NAND as Samsung and three times as much as Xiaomi, giving it greater leverage during negotiations.
The broader issue is that memory manufacturers, including Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron, are generating stronger margins from products such as HBM and server DRAM. As a result, manufacturers are prioritizing these higher-margin memory products instead of LPDDR memory commonly used in smartphones.
Market research firm Omdia says DRAM and NAND prices have already risen sharply since last year and are expected to remain elevated through the first half of 2027, although the pace of increases may slow.
| Period | 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage | 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $35 | $60 |
| Q1 2026 | $109 | — |
| Q2 2026 | $132 | — |
| Q3 2026* | $140 | $202 |
| Q4 2026* | $144 | $206 |
*Estimated figures
Based on Omdia’s figures, the cost of an 8GB + 256GB memory configuration has increased from $35 in Q3 2025 to an estimated $144 by Q4 2026.
These figures reflect only the cost of RAM and storage components, so continued increases could put additional pressure on smartphone manufacturers’ margins and retail pricing.
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