Higher memory costs are reshaping 2026 smartphone mix rather than only cutting units

Smartphone brands are responding to higher memory and upstream component costs by reducing exposure to mid-range and entry-level models, according to the source report. Industry participants still expect global handset shipments to decline in 2026, but the decline could be limited to a single-digit rate as higher average selling prices support total sales value. For RamTrend, this is a clear mobile-memory signal: when DRAM and NAND costs rise, phone vendors often protect margins by changing product mix rather than absorbing all of the increase. That can reduce low-end memory demand while preserving demand for higher-capacity configurations in premium phones. The result is a market where unit demand may soften, but memory pricing pressure remains visible in device strategy.