GoKawiilSmartphone shipments fall record 22% as memory chip costs soar 350%, IDC says
IDC reports smartphone shipments dropped 22% in the September quarter, the steepest decline the research firm has tracked, as manufacturers raised prices and cut cheaper models. IDC attributes the surge to memory chip prices rising roughly 350% over the past year amid heavy demand from AI companies.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The data suggests AI's hunger for memory chips is spilling over into consumer electronics pricing, squeezing budget smartphone buyers first. IDC's warning of further declines implies the memory shortage could keep reshaping device affordability and manufacturer strategy well into next year.
- Smartphone shipments fell 22% in Q3, IDC's steepest decline on record.
- Memory chip prices rose about 350% over the past year, per IDC.
- AI industry demand for memory is cited as the driver, squeezing budget phone models.
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Published there as: “AI’s memory chip crunch is crushing the smartphone market”
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