Main points
- The shortage of RAM, driven by demand from artificial intelligence developers, is forcing smartphone manufacturers to review memory configurations and return to models with 8 GB of RAM.
- Due to rising component prices, budget smartphones may have plastic bodies, hybrid SIM and microSD card slots, and screens with outdated specifications.
Smartphones in 2026 will have technologies from the past / Unsplash
The mobile technology market is preparing for serious challenges that will affect the wallets and user experience of millions. The rapid development of AI has created an unexpected side effect, forcing manufacturers to reconsider the architecture of even popular models. Buyers should prepare for the fact that the usual quality standards in the affordable segment will undergo changes.
What technical compromises will manufacturers make to save affordable smartphones?
The mobile device industry has faced a new reality dictated by the shortage of components. The main reason for the instability is the jump in prices for RAM, caused by demand from artificial intelligence developers. They are massively buying up available memory volumes, and ordinary consumers will feel the consequences. Budget and mid-budget smartphones, where every dollar of cost matters, turned out to be the most vulnerable to such fluctuations, writes AndroidAuthority.
Less RAM
A well-known insider Digital Chat Station reported that manufacturers are already preparing a number of strategic changes to adapt to the crisis. One of the consequences will be a change in the usual memory configurations. Models with 8 gigabytes of RAM and 512 gigabytes of permanent memory are returning to the market.
Experts suggest that such a combination will replace the more expensive options with 12 gigabytes of RAM, since it now accounts for a significant part of the cost of materials.
According to Counterpoint Research, as of the end of the first quarter, LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage accounted for about 14% and 11% of the total cost of device components, respectively.
It is predicted that in the second quarter these figures may increase by 20% and 16%, which forces engineers to look for ways to reduce the cost of other elements.
Return of microSD slots
An interesting consequence of the savings will be the return of the hybrid SIM card slot, which allows you to install either a second communication card or a microSD memory card. Although this is a forced step due to the high cost of internal storage, for many users this will be positive news, as it will allow you to expand the device's memory cheaply.
Cheap plastic again
Additionally, plastic frames and optical fingerprint scanners are expected to make a massive comeback in the sub-3,000 yuan (about $436) segment in 2026. Upcoming devices like the OPPO Reno 15, OnePlus Ace 6T, and Samsung Galaxy A56 fall into this category.
We fought for the best screens, but we lost.
Another alarming sign is the possible use of screens with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and the outdated teardrop notch for the front camera. Previously, such solutions were typical of the cheapest models like the $ 200 Galaxy A17 or the $ 120 Redmi 15C, but now they may appear in more expensive devices. It is likely that thicker frames, which have only just begun to disappear even from cheap models, will also be added to this.
Old technology at a new price
As a result, due to the appetites of companies in the field of artificial intelligence, mid-range smartphones in 2026 will offer fewer features for the same price or even slightly higher. Consumers will have to study the technical specifications much more carefully before buying, so as not to get outdated hardware in a new wrapper.