No CEO says phone prices will continue to rise

Memory is now the most expensive component in a smartphone. It is more expensive than the processor, more expensive than the display, and can account for more than 50% of the total hardware bill.

On the Phone (4a), memory costs doubled between when we first decided to build the device and when it was launched. They have doubled since then.

I wrote about this earlier this year. Now it’s playing, faster than predicted.

Phone prices are going up, and will continue to go up until next year. Since February, new phones have been launching up to $100 more expensive than their predecessors. In India, smartphones above ₹ 30K have seen price hikes of ₹ 7,000 or more.

The natural instinct is to buy in advance. It doesn’t work that way. In the absence, memory is given, not bought. You get what you are given, at the current price.

If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your device, the best time was yesterday. The next best time is now. This year’s sales season will not have the discounts that people are used to.