High Memory Prices Weigh on Smartphone OEM Playbooks

EE Times Asia reported that global smartphone sales fell 8% year over year in Week 20 of 2026, marking a ninth straight week of contraction, based on Counterpoint Technology Market Research data. The article also highlighted a widening performance gap among brands, with supply-chain stability and component visibility affecting pricing and promotion strategy. The clearest RamTrend signal is the memory-cost commentary: OEMs are said to be planning around high memory prices for the rest of 2026 through price increases, launch realignments, cost optimization and feature tradeoffs. That makes the story relevant to mobile DRAM and storage demand even though end-device sell-through is weak. The tension is that soft smartphone demand can pressure memory volumes, while sustained component-cost inflation limits OEM flexibility and may keep bill-of-material choices conservative.