Mid-Range Phone Prices Rise Above $500 in 2026 as Memory Costs Jump 100%
Updated
Updated · gizmochina · Aug 24
Mid-Range Phone Prices Rise Above $500 in 2026 as Memory Costs Jump 100%
3 articles · Updated · gizmochina · Aug 24
Summary
$500 is no longer a reliable ceiling for many mid-range smartphones in 2026, as brands in markets from India to Europe quietly lift prices.
A global memory chip shortage is driving the increases, with AI data centers absorbing DRAM and NAND supply and pushing component costs higher across the sector.
Samsung reportedly sought price hikes of as much as 100% on LPDDR5X memory, underscoring how sharply input costs have risen for phone makers.
The result is a higher price ladder for the category, even as mid-range devices still offer the features that define their appeal—OLED screens, large batteries and dependable cameras.