Memory chip prices are heading higher again, and the next wave may be felt far beyond factories and data centers. Samsung is reportedly preparing another increase in DRAM contract prices, a shift that could ripple into laptops, smartphones, and GPUs.
According to supply chain sources cited by Chinese and Korean media, Samsung Electronics has informed some customers verbally that the average DRAM selling price may rise by 20% this quarter. The move comes as supply remains tight and demand from AI infrastructure continues to absorb capacity.
Pressure is not limited to DRAM
The price push is broader than a single memory category. South Korea’s memory chip industry is also said to be pushing for a 20% rise in average general DRAM selling prices compared with the previous quarter.
That effort reflects a market where producers are trying to maximize margins while supply stays constrained. Heavy investment in AI infrastructure has intensified the shortage, while Samsung and SK Hynix are also facing a class-action lawsuit over alleged price fixing and preference for higher-margin HBM4 AI memory.
Samsung has already raised DRAM prices sharply before. In the first quarter of this year, its average DRAM selling price reportedly jumped more than 90%, then climbed another 50% in the second quarter.
| Reported Memory Price Trend | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung DRAM, Q1 | More than 90% | Average selling price increase |
| Samsung DRAM, Q2 | 50% | Follow-up price increase |
| Planned Samsung DRAM increase | 20% | Expected this quarter |
| General DRAM market in South Korea | 20% | Compared with previous quarter |
| NAND contract prices | 10% to 15% | Expected for the same period |
Consumer devices are starting to feel it
The cost pressure is no longer staying at the component level. Apple is said to have begun raising prices for MacBook and iPhone models because it can no longer absorb the higher chip costs on its own.
For buyers, that means retail prices for new laptops, phones, and GPUs could continue to edge upward. Memory-heavy products are especially vulnerable, because higher component costs can quickly affect final pricing.
TrendForce expects DRAM supply to remain tight this quarter, although contract price growth may slow to 13% to 18% as demand starts to weaken. Even so, the broader direction still points upward, not down.
NAND is also moving higher
Price pressure is not confined to DRAM, and NAND is facing the same trend. TrendForce also expects NAND contract prices to rise 10% to 15% over the same period.
One example drawing attention is Samsung’s 8GB LPDDR5X chip, which is currently discounted on Amazon. That part is expected to rise 20% in the third quarter, adding more pressure to consumer device pricing.
Analysts warn that this combination could further cool demand. Smartphone shipments are projected to fall sharply by 11% in 2026 if component costs and selling prices keep squeezing the market.
The most exposed products are the ones that rely on memory most
Gaming laptops, premium ultrabooks, and flagship phones are seen as the most exposed categories. These products depend heavily on memory, so any sustained increase in chip costs can reach consumers quickly.
The main force behind the trend remains the same: continued demand from AI data centers. As long as that demand stays strong, memory prices may struggle to return to earlier levels.
