Phone makers of all sizes are feeling the RAM crunch

"We can potentially go for bigger volumes, especially in the mid-range segment and entry-level segment, so then we can try to lower costs in that area. We have to chase the latest and intend to showcase our best. The Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra launching this week in Europe match last year's pricing, but it sounds like that trend might not hold in the long term."

"You can order memory, but they don't tell you how much it costs until the day they ship. So it's like trading stock. Yes or no, they don't care if you don't want it, but that means they'll just turn to the next company in a long queue for the sale."

"It's not like somebody is excluded from it. Everybody has to deal with this difficult problem. Even in the face of some grim predictions for the global smartphone market, all manufacturers are experiencing similar pressures."

Phone manufacturers face significant pressure from RAM shortages, with major brands confirming price increases across the industry. Xiaomi plans to offset increased costs through higher volumes in mid-range and entry-level segments while maintaining flagship specifications. RAM pricing has become highly unpredictable, with suppliers determining costs only at shipment time, creating stock-like trading conditions. Manufacturers have limited negotiating power, as suppliers can easily redirect orders to competitors. Despite the challenging environment, industry leaders acknowledge that all manufacturers face similar pressures, creating a level playing field across the sector.

Read at The Verge