AI-Driven RAM Shortage Could Cause the Biggest Smartphone Shipments Drop in a Decade

The worldwide smartphone industry is facing an AI RAM shortage, and the industry is projected to experience its most significant shipping downturn in more than ten years due to artificial intelligence, which causes an unexpected decrease in demand. The need for high-performance RAM has increased because smartphones now require AI features as vital elements of their design. The memory requirements for on-device AI assistants and real-time photo and video enhancements, smarter search and voice processing, and background AI tasks exceed the memory needs of standard mobile applications.

Semiconductor manufacturers have made memory production their primary focus to meet the needs of AI servers and data centers, which require memory components. Tech companies increasingly acquire advanced DRAM and high-bandwidth memory for their AI infrastructure because generative AI technology experiences rapid growth. The current situation generates restricted access to smartphone-grade RAM, particularly with the newer LPDDR5 and LPDDR5X standards.

The smartphone industry faces market challenges because customers demand more smartphones than manufacturers can produce. Manufacturers must manage increased component expenses, production delays, and reduced profitability. Some brands may delay launches, reduce production targets, or increase retail prices to offset the impact. Mid-range and budget devices face greater risks because they must operate within tight budget constraints.

AI technology introduces new features to smartphones, but it also produces supply chain problems that delay smartphone manufacturing. The ongoing memory shortage, together with AI infrastructure development, which consumes advanced chips, will lead to a major decrease in global smartphone shipments during 2026.