Samsung: Memory shortage to worsen through 2027, persist until 2028
Original: Samsung expects memory shortage to worsen through 2027 and last until 2028
Why This Matters
The multi-year memory shortage signals a structural shift in chip supply priorities toward AI infrastructure, with broad consumer device price implications.
Samsung, which supplies roughly one-third of the world's memory chips, warned on its Q2 earnings call that the ongoing RAM shortage will intensify through 2027 and persist until at least 2028, driven by surging AI data center demand that is diverting supply away from consumer electronics.
Samsung disclosed during its Q2 2026 earnings call that the global memory shortage — informally dubbed 'RAMaggedon' — is expected to worsen through 2027 and continue until at least 2028. The company noted that frontier AI labs are proactively sharing 'medium- to long-term demand forecasts' directly with Samsung to secure future supply allocations, enabling the company to prioritize customers willing to sign long-term contracts and invest in production capacity with greater confidence.
While Samsung's semiconductor unit posted all-time-high sales in Q2, its smartphone and TV divisions saw profitability shrink due to higher component costs. Samsung has begun passing those costs to consumers by raising prices on Galaxy smartphones and tablets, though the move has dampened device demand. Apple similarly raised prices on MacBooks, Macs, and iPads, and warned that revenue growth for the upcoming quarter is projected to slow to 9%–11% year-over-year, down from a recent 16% growth rate. Nvidia is also reportedly planning to raise consumer GPU prices by 20%–30%, which could further elevate costs across gaming devices, laptops, and desktops.