GoKawiilMemory shortage forces smaller phone and laptop makers to redesign products, verify chip authenticity
A global memory chip shortage is pushing smaller device makers like Fairphone, Jolla, and Framework to rethink product design, order chips months ahead, and test incoming shipments for counterfeits. Fairphone's CEO says memory now accounts for nearly 60% of the bill of materials on its roughly $400 phones, while SK Hynix's chief has warned the shortage could persist until 2030, peaking in severity around 2027.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Unlike previous chip shortages driven mainly by price spikes, this crunch is about outright availability, which hits budget-focused manufacturers hardest since memory represents a disproportionate share of their costs. With smartphone shipments already projected to fall by their steepest margin on record this year, prolonged memory scarcity could reshape which companies can compete in affordable device markets and accelerate industry consolidation.
- Memory now makes up nearly 60% of the bill of materials for budget phones like Fairphone's, according to its CEO.
- SK Hynix's CEO expects the shortage to worsen through 2027 and last until 2030.
- Smaller makers like Jolla and Framework are adapting with flexible motherboard designs, batch testing, and modular components to cope with scarce, sometimes counterfeit, memory supply.
Fairphone 5 Smartphone — Given the article's focus on Fairphone navigating the memory shortage, their flagship model is a great way to support a company committed to repairability and sustainable design. It's a smart pick for anyone wanting a phone that's built to last and easy to fix rather than replace when components fail.
See Fairphone 5 Smartphone on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Kunal Khullar, 2026-09-16
Published there as: “AI-induced Memory shortage is changing how devices are built, Fairphone says memory now 60% of materials cost — smaller laptop and phone makers are redesigning products and have to test for fake chips”
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