Memory chip supply is tight, which may drive up smartphone prices
Due to the surge in demand for memory chips from AI data centers, prices for electronic products such as smartphones and laptops may rise next year. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing and founder Lei Jun stated that the price increase in the memory market has exceeded expectations, and supply chain pressures will intensify. Experts believe that manufacturers of PCs and smartphones will be affected by the chip shortage, leading consumers to pay more. The increased demand for key storage components like DRAM and NAND Flash is driving up chip prices, benefiting companies such as Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron Tech, and SanDisk
(Agence France-Presse Tokyo, 20th) Manufacturers and analysts warn that due to the surge in demand for memory chips used in consumer electronics driven by artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, consumers may face rising prices for smartphones, laptops, and other electronic products next year.
Global tech giants are pouring significant funds into building hardware that can power AI tools like ChatGPT. Experts say that the influx of demand from these companies is exacerbating an already tight supply chain.
Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing stated this week that the price increase in the memory market this year has far exceeded expectations, bluntly stating that supply chain pressures next year will far surpass this year; Xiaomi founder Lei Jun further complained that memory prices have "increased too much."
William Keating, head of semiconductor and technology consulting firm Ingenuity, shares this view, stating, "All companies producing personal computers, smartphones, servers, and other products will be affected by the (chip) shortage. Ultimately, consumers will have to pay more."
Currently, in-demand DRAM chips and NAND Flash storage components, which are not only used in everyday electronic products but are also essential for AI processing large amounts of data, are driving up memory chip prices, leading to significant revenue growth for companies producing these chips, including South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, as well as American firms Micron and SanDisk.
Samsung Electronics executive Kim Jae-jun stated last month, "The demand for AI-related servers continues to grow, and this demand far exceeds industry supply."
