The rise of artificial intelligence is not only paid for in cloud subscriptions. Behind chatbots and AI functions in apps lies a phenomenal rush on RAM. The data centers of OpenAI, Microsoft, Google and Meta absorb colossal volumes of DRAM, to the point of causing a shortage which is already affecting graphics cards and consoles.
Next victim in the crosshairs: cheap Android smartphones. According to Counterpoint Research Korea, the cost of components for an entry-level model with at least 6 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128 GB of eMMC storage has already jumped about 25%. Enough to crack the entire economic model of smartphones at less than €200, at the risk of seeing some disappear faster than expected from French shelves.
RAM shortage: why are cheap Android smartphones most at risk?
According to IDC, the price of DRAM has risen nearly 172% year-over-year in 2025, while global memory production has only increased by about 16-17%. Manufacturers like SamsungSK Hynix or Micron favor high-speed chips intended for AI servers, much more profitable than mobile memory. Result: LPDDR4X or LPDDR5X RAM becomes significantly more expensive for consumer electronics.
In a smartphone, RAM and storage already account for up to 20% of the cost of components. Counterpoint estimates that entry-level Android suffers an increase of 20 to 30% in this cost, compared to only 10 to 15% for the mid- and high-end, which Les Numériques describes as an “untenable” situation for low-cost models. Phonandroid adds that global smartphone shipments could increase from 1.26 billion units in 2025 to around 1.1 billion in 2026.
Cheap Android: what could the 2026 models look like?
To preserve their margins, manufacturers have two options: increase prices or cut corners on the technical sheet. TrendForce anticipates a massive return to 4 GB of RAM on entry-level Android, where 6 GB is now becoming the norm, and storage which could fall to 64 GB. Enough to severely limit multitasking, large apps and future AI functions embedded in *Android*.
The signals are already there. Frandroid notes that the series Galaxy S26 was released with an additional cost of up to €180 on certain versions, while the Galaxy A57 and A37 took €50 to €80 more. On the Chinese side, “The five main Android manufacturers have all increased their prices” from April 2026, reports Frandroid. According to IDC, brands with a strong presence in the entry-level segment such as Xiaomi, Oppo or Honor are on the front lines of this crisis.
Low-cost Android smartphones: what prices and what alternatives for small budgets?
IDC is counting on an average increase of 3 to 8% in the price of smartphones in 2026, to which would be added, according to Counterpoint, an additional 8 to 15% on models already made more expensive by memory. In this context, still seeing many new Androids below the €200 mark in France is a gamble. Some manufacturers could simply abandon this segment, focusing on an upgraded mid-range and reconditioned to cover small budgets.
For French users, the risk is twofold: fewer truly affordable choices and more “trap” models, with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and minimal software support. When we know that Sony claims to have “the intention of minimizing the impact of the increase in memory costs” on the PS5, quotes Phonandroid, we understand that all tech is under pressure. If you are aiming for a budget-friendly Android in the next two years, it is better to target at least 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, or even consider a refurbished mid-range 2024 or 2025 rather than a new undersized 2027 which will age very quickly.
