Memory Becomes Top BOM Cost in Phones: 12+256GB Combo Pricier Than Latest Flagship Chip
Bubble signal: 0 · NeutralRelevance 40Chips & ComputeGlobal
Source: IT Home · Published 2026-08-28
Summary
According to a tipster, memory and SoC prices have inverted, making memory the top BOM cost in phones. The 12+256GB memory combo costs about 2200, up 1700 year-on-year, while the flagship chip costs about 2000, up only 500. Counterpoint reports smartphone memory prices rose over 80% QoQ in Q2 2026, driving significant BOM cost increases across segments, with DRAM surpassing SoC as the most expensive component in flagships.
Bubble analysis
The memory price surge raises phone costs, but this is a supply-demand imbalance and industry cycle issue, not direct evidence of an AI investment bubble. However, AI-driven datacenter demand may worsen memory shortages, indirectly affecting AI investment expectations.
#memory#smartphone#counterpoint#bom
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