Smartphone Shipments Crash to 13-Year Low Due to RAMageddon
Smartphone Shipments Crash to 13-Year Low Due to RAMageddon
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/smartphone-shipments-13-year-low-ramageddon-chip-shortage/
Publish Date: 2026-07-13 17:32:00
Source Domain: www.cnet.com
- Global smartphone shipments dropped significantly, decreasing by 11% over the last three months and reaching the lowest levels since 2013.
- The primary driver of this decline is attributed to a memory-chip shortage that has driven up prices and suppressed consumer demand.
- The memory shortage has most severely affected entry and midtier manufacturers like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, leading them to ship fewer devices.
- Leading manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have experienced increased shipment growth, with Apple hitting a 20% market share and Samsung reclaiming the top spot with a 24% share.
- Counterpoint Research predicts a global decline of around 14% in smartphone shipments for the entire year, expecting the memory shortage to persist through 2027.
