It is quite likely that 2026 will not be a good year to change mobile phones, and all the information that has been collected since the end of last year points to a general increase in the prices of electronic devices during this year.
This is due to the rise of artificial intelligence, which is causing strong pressure on the supply chains of processors worldwide. The growing demand for high-speed memory, essential for AI data centers, puts mobile and other device manufacturers in a dilemma: raise prices or assume lower margins.
Additionally, large cloud providers are securing long-term contracts with chipmakers, forcing consumer brands to accept higher prices in order to obtain essential components. According to Hyundai Motor Securities analyst Greg Roh, this has boosted DRAM and HBM prices, which increased up to 55% in the last quarter of 2025.
The impact is already being felt among hardware manufacturers. Dell warned of accelerating cost increases, while Raspberry Pi called its own price increase “painful.”
Lenovo, the world’s largest computer maker, has begun stockpiling critical components to protect itself from market volatility. Other manufacturers, such as Xiaomi, anticipate that supply chain pressure will be even greater during 2026.
The analysts They estimate that prices of consumer products could increase between 10 and 20% this year. Although manufacturers such as Samsung are expanding their plants and building new facilities, the time required to ramp up production means that price pressure will not ease in the short term. Inventory hoarding is also expected to continue throughout the year, keeping costs high until at least 2027.
So consumer technology makers face a complex dilemma: increase prices to maintain margins, risking the loss of customers, or accept lower profits while competing in an increasingly expensive market.