Memory-chip shortages are pushing 2026 phone prices up while upgrades stall. Here’s why last year’s flagships and select midrange buys often deliver better value—plus one notable exception.
Smartphones are getting more expensive, and many of the 2026 launches don’t feel like they’re worth the extra cost.
That pressure sits on a simple bottleneck: memory chips.. Misryoum has been tracking how DRAM and NAND constraints ripple into everyday devices. and why 2026 models—especially midrange phones—face a tougher value case than their predecessors.. When memory costs rise, phone makers typically respond by increasing prices, reducing specs, or doing both.. For shoppers, that turns last year’s discounts into more than a bargain—it can be the smarter buying decision.
Misryoum readers are already seeing the effect in the market.. A recent IDC outlook pointed to ongoing pressure across consumer electronics, with smartphone bill-of-materials heavily tied to memory.. For a mid-range device. memory can account for roughly 15–20% of the total bill of materials. while flagship devices are still meaningfully exposed at around 10–15%.. As those memory prices surge. the “math” for upgrades becomes less generous: manufacturers have to spend their limited margin where it counts. and consumers feel it at checkout.
At the same time, price hikes are colliding with disappointing incremental change.. Misryoum noticed how several 2026 releases—particularly in the midrange—look closer to “refresh” than “rethink.” In the Pixel 10a and Galaxy A57 examples. the upgrades are largely understated. while pricing shifts upward compared with the prior generation’s launch deals.. That’s a frustrating mix: when performance and camera changes don’t clearly leap forward. even small price increases can erase the advantage of buying new.
Misryoum’s takeaway is practical: if your goal is the best phone for the money. start by looking at 2025 models before you chase 2026 SKUs.. The logic is straightforward—newer phones don’t always deliver enough tangible improvements to justify paying more under a market-wide cost squeeze.. And because carriers and retailers often push discounts harder on last year’s stock. you can end up buying the same class of hardware for less.
For Google, Misryoum would generally steer shoppers toward the Pixel 10 instead of the Pixel 10a—if value is the priority.. The Pixel 10 typically brings benefits that matter day to day. like more RAM and a telephoto option. plus charging conveniences tied to the hardware design.. Even when you factor in the usual caveat around deal timing and condition. the Pixel 10 tends to offer a stronger “what you get for the price” story than paying a premium for a device that hasn’t moved much beyond its predecessor.
Samsung’s case is similar, but the recommendation is broader.. Misryoum would point readers to the Galaxy S25 line rather than defaulting to 2026 flagships, especially when spec changes are modest.. If camera systems. battery behavior. and core features aren’t meaningfully different. then the discount curve on last year’s Galaxy S series becomes the real upgrade.. The one thing to watch is trade-in economics—buying directly from a manufacturer sometimes means trade-in offers aren’t as aggressive as you might expect. even if the hardware itself remains highly competitive.
Apple is where Misryoum’s “skip 2026” advice needs a clear exception.. Apple’s recent approach—holding stronger value relative to earlier iPhone pricing while still making incremental improvements—can change the math for certain shoppers.. For those considering an iPhone in this cycle. Misryoum would treat the iPhone 17 series differently: the base model and certain variants can offer upgrades that outpace many midrange competitors. even if “more for less” is rarer than it used to be.
Misryoum also sees why this kind of buying strategy is starting to feel normal.. When supply constraints push memory costs higher, innovation budgets don’t disappear—but they get concentrated.. That means the market can enter a period where fewer devices feel genuinely transformative. while the cost of switching remains higher.. In that environment, shopping becomes less about chasing novelty and more about selecting the right value window.
Bottom line: for most people. 2026 is shaping up to be a year where last year’s phones are the better deal because the industry is paying the price for memory shortages and slower-than-expected platform change.. Misryoum’s advice is simple—buy older, discounted models unless the newer release clearly improves your experience.. And if you’re weighing Apple, that exception is exactly where you should look first.
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