The ongoing memory shortage is starting to hit smartphone manufacturers, and consumers are seeing the impact through rising prices and specifications.
New reports suggest that the cost of high-end RAM and storage configurations has even surpassed the cost of flagship chips, leading to a major shift in the way smartphones are built. This is a big deal since the processor was usually the most expensive component. But now it looks like memory takes that top spot.
What’s the problem?
The problem is simple. The growing demand for AI has led to a sharp increase in storage prices. High-speed memory and RAM chips are used by AI data centers and services. This causes flagship configurations like 16GB RAM + 1TB storage to become increasingly expensive. Even mid-range models are stuck with 8GB of RAM as brands have to either reduce their specifications or increase prices to maintain their margins.
Modern problem, known solution
But here’s where things get interesting.
Instead of continuing the trend of “more internal storage every year,” smartphone manufacturers could reconsider an older, reliable solution: expandable storage via microSD cards, particularly via hybrid SIM slots. For those who don’t know, hybrid SIM slots basically allow users to choose between dual SIM or a SIM card + microSD card.
Why hybrid storage could make a comeback
Expandable storage helps solve a very specific problem by allowing users to increase the storage on their device. Instead of shipping phones with expensive internal storage of 512GB or 1TB, brands could reduce case storage to 128GB or 256GB and allow users to expand via microSD cards.
But that also brings with it real compromises.
There’s a reason why brands have moved away from microSD in the first place. The external memory cards run slower compared to the internal memory, offer less control over performance consistency and lead to potential fragmentation of the user experience.
