Smartphone Shipments Expected to Fall 15% in 2026 as Memory Prices Push Up Phone Costs

Global smartphone shipments are expected to decline by 15% in 2026 as increasing memory prices driven by AI technology push up device costs , according to research firm CCS Insight. Some entry-level phones have seen their prices rise by over 50% since last year. The primary smartphone market shrank by 4.4% in the first quarter of 2026, despite carriers stockpiling inventory, indicating further declines are likely for the rest of the year.