Memory Component Crisis: Implications for Device Pricing and Market Competition

Tuesday 11 August, 16:00 BST

Volatility in DRAM and NAND markets is reshaping the cost structure of connected devices, increasing manufacturing prices for smartphones and other consumer electronics. In this webinar, we set the scene for the “memory squeeze”, unpacking the supply-and-demand dynamics and structural factors driving pricing pressure.

We then assess how these cost increases are feeding through into device pricing globally, drawing on FDM CCS Insight pricing data to highlight recent trends and regional differences. We also offer a forward-looking view, based on our forecast for mobile phone shipments to 2028. Against this backdrop, we explore how device-makers, operators and retailers are responding — from pricing strategies and portfolio shifts to financing, subsidies and bundling — to preserve demand and manage costs.

Finally, we examine the downstream implications for the secondary market and trade-in ecosystem, and what this means for device life cycles, residual values and upgrade behaviour. We conclude with expectations for how competitive dynamics in the smartphone market are likely to evolve as a result.

Questions we will answer:

What are the key dynamics shaping DRAM and NAND markets, and what are the underlying drivers behind them?
How will memory market changes impact the pricing of new devices?
How have smartphone prices changed in the UK compared with India?
How are device affordability and pricing expected to evolve through to 2028?
What strategies will device-makers, OEMs, carriers and retailers adopt to address device affordability challenges?
What impact will these trends have on the secondary market and trade-in ecosystem?
How will the smartphone competitive landscape evolve in response to changing market dynamics?

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