GoKawiilRyan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR A leaker has claimed that a number of changes are coming to smartphones, presumably due to the RAM crisis.
These changes include the return of 8GB/512GB models, hybrid SIM slots, and 90Hz waterdrop screens.
These tweaks are expected to apply to mid-range phones.
RAM prices have spiked in recent months as AI companies buy up all the memory. This has already resulted in price increases across the consumer tech segment, and the situation shows no sign of improving. Budget and mid-range phones are particularly vulnerable to these price hikes, but a leaker has revealed how smartphone makers are adapting.
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Veteran leaker Digital Chat Station has asserted on Weibo that manufacturers are gearing up for several major changes, ostensibly in the wake of the RAM crisis. Check out the machine-translated post below.
For one, the tipster claims that 8GB/512GB phones are back on the menu. It’s unclear what this configuration would replace, but we’re guessing this could be an alternative to 12GB/512GB or even 12GB/256GB variants in mid-tier and upper mid-range devices. This configuration would make some sense, as RAM now accounts for a large share of the bill of materials (BoM), although storage costs have also increased since last year.
Counterpoint Research recently reported that, in the case of a phone with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, RAM and storage were projected to account for 14% and 11% of BoM costs respectively by the end of Q1. Furthermore, these figures could jump by 20% and 16% by Q2.
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