iPhone could benefit from memory chip crisis in one key way: report
Source: 9to5Mac
A new Bloomberg report covering IDC data offers a dire outlook for the smartphone market in 2026 because of the current memory‑chip crisis, but Apple and the iPhone could actually benefit in one key way.
Vlad Savov writes at Bloomberg:
“The global smartphone market will contract 12.9 % in 2026 because of the unprecedented memory chip shortage, marking ‘a crisis like no other,’ according to researcher IDC.”
Market Outlook
The new forecast is a dramatic revision down from earlier estimates and reflects the ongoing memory crunch that’s affecting every corner of the electronics industry. Demand for advanced memory to power artificial‑intelligence tasks has drained global supply well into next year, jeopardizing the business model of many smartphone makers.
Impact on Android vs. iPhone
Savov explains that the memory crisis could create a major shift in the smartphone market, with low‑cost Android models being hit much harder than the iPhone. The reason is the already thin profit margins for many Android device brands. Many Android makers won’t be able to afford the higher DRAM and NAND costs in their budget smartphones, so fewer models are expected to be produced overall.
IDC Forecast
IDC predicts that 2026 will see 1.1 billion smartphones shipped globally, down from 1.26 billion in 2025.
Apple’s Position
The report adds: “Premium handsets, like the bulk of Apple Inc.’s iPhone lineup, will weather the crisis better.” Apple is reportedly planning to keep its iPhone 18 pricing largely consistent. Consequently, even though Apple will face its own challenges during the memory shortage, it stands poised to earn a larger share of the overall smartphone market as cheaper Android offerings become untenable.
Do you expect Apple to raise iPhone prices this year due to the memory crisis? Let us know in the comments.
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