Samsung to Raise Smartphone DRAM and NAND Prices in 2026

Samsung Electronics is preparing to raise the prices of DRAM and NAND supplied to smartphone makers by 7% to 10%, with negotiations said to be underway first with Chinese vendors and Apple to be approached in the fourth quarter, according to a report by Korean publication Sisa Journal e on 15 September 2026.

Negotiations and customer reach

Sisa Journal e attributes the proposed increase to Samsung's Device Solutions division. The report says talks have begun with Chinese smartphone manufacturers and that Apple will be asked back to the negotiating table in Q4. It adds that Samsung's own smartphone division will not be exempt because the Device Solutions and Device eXperience divisions operate separately.

Analysts cited in the report note that Apple purchases roughly two times as much NAND for its smartphones as Samsung and about three times as much as Xiaomi, giving Apple substantial negotiating leverage, the analysts say.

Memory market focus and Omdia price forecasts

Market participants point to a shift in production emphasis. Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron are reporting strong profits from high-margin memory products such as HBM and server DRAM, which has directed fabrication capacity toward higher-performance segments rather than LPDDR variants used in smartphones.

Research firm Omdia reports that DRAM and NAND prices have risen sharply since last year and will continue to rise, though at a slower pace. Omdia also warns that prices are likely to remain elevated through the first half of 2027. The firm provided estimated component-only costs for two common smartphone memory and storage combinations as follows:

• Q3 2025: 8GB/256GB - $35; 12GB/512GB - $60
• Q1 2026: 8GB/256GB - $109; 12GB/512GB - not listed
• Q2 2026: 8GB/256GB - $132; 12GB/512GB - not listed
• Q3 2026*: 8GB/256GB - $140; 12GB/512GB - $202
• Q4 2026*: 8GB/256GB - $144; 12GB/512GB - $206

The figures represent only the cost of RAM and storage. Items marked with an asterisk are estimates, per Omdia.