Apple has agreed to Samsung’s memory price hike starting in Q1 2027, raising the cost floor for smartphones. DRAM and NAND prices will jump 30 to 40% compared to late 2026.
The deal sets Apple’s cost at $2.00 per gigabit for LPDDR5X RAM and $0.33 per gigabit for NAND storage. These are big increases from $1.50 and $0.26 just months earlier. With higher production costs locked in, iPhone prices are expected to climb again next year.
Consumers already saw higher prices this year. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched with a $100 increase over last year’s models. Even older iPhone 17 and 16 series were priced higher. In the Philippines, the iPhone 17 base 256GB model now sells for ₱69,990 (up from ₱57,990), showing how global supply chain costs are affecting local markets.
Other brands are reacting differently. OPPO and vivo have reportedly refused Samsung’s new terms, leaving questions about their supply chain. These companies rely on competitive pricing, so absorbing higher memory costs will be harder. Apple, with its premium positioning, is able to pass the increase to buyers more easily.
Also Read: iPhone price hike hits PH: New prices for iPhone 17, 17e, Air, and 16
This memory price hike signals yet another round of smartphone price increases in 2027. For us, it means preparing for higher costs on flagship devices. For other brands, it could mean finding new suppliers or facing tighter margins.
