Xiaomi Redmi and Samsung Galaxy A-series phones set to cost more due to higher DRAM prices
The cost of your next budget or mid-range smartphone from Samsung or Xiaomi is almost certainly set to jump, and you can thank the booming demand for..
✨ Key Highlights
The prices of budget and mid-range smartphones, particularly Xiaomi Redmi and Samsung Galaxy A-series phones, are set to increase due to a global shortage and escalating cost of general-purpose DRAM, driven by the booming demand for AI servers.
- Memory component prices have surged; Xiaomi has already raised the price of a budget phone in China by 7.5%, equivalent to KES 8,000.
- The shortage is fueled by manufacturers like Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron redirecting production to more profitable high-bandwidth memory (HBM), used in AI servers.
- This "memory inflation" is expected to persist until 2027 or 2028, affecting not only smartphones but also PCs and other electronics, with DDR5 32GB modules seeing a 128% price spike in South Korea.
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Samsung and OPPO Roll Out Android 16 Updates as Phone Prices Set to Rise - October 2025
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is now receiving its final major OS upgrade, the stable One UI 8 update based on Android 16, across East Africa including Kenya. Similarly, OPPO officially unveiled its ColorOS 16 for global devices on October 28, which is also built on Android 16 and scheduled for rollout from late 2025. In parallel with these software releases, the prices of budget and mid-range smartphones are set to increase. The price hike will affect models such as the Xiaomi Redmi and Samsung Galaxy A-series. This is due to a global shortage and escalating cost of general-purpose DRAM, driven by the booming demand for AI servers.
