Memory Scarcity Hits Smaller Electronics Makers Amid AI-Focused Shift

The memory chip market has been split into two worlds: one where major producers prioritize high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers, and another where smaller phone and laptop manufacturers struggle to get their hands on conventional DRAM and NAND.

Industry executives predict that this shortage will persist well into 2028, affecting companies like Fairphone, Framework, and Jolla. These brands have built loyal followings on repairability and openness, but now they're facing a crisis that has nothing to do with product design, it's all about allocation.

The problem isn't just that memory costs more; it's that smaller manufacturers can't reliably get it at all. This is due to the dominant players, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, redirecting manufacturing resources toward high-margin AI memory chips.

For smaller electronics brands, memory can account for up to 60% of manufacturing costs. TrendForce projects conventional DRAM contract prices will climb 13-18% in the current quarter, following an extraordinary increase of 93-98% in the first quarter of 2026.