Memory Shortage Squeezes Budget Devices Through 2027

A severe shortage of memory chips is squeezing smaller phone and laptop makers, with availability—not just rising prices—determining which products can be shipped. Companies including Fairphone, Jolla and Framework are redesigning motherboards, using modular memory, accepting non-cancellable orders far in advance and testing every incoming batch to detect refurbished chips sold as new. The shortage is driving up costs for budget devices and could push manufacturers to drop entry-level models, steer customers toward higher-memory versions or pass expenses on to consumers. Industry executives expect the supply crunch to persist through at least 2027, with broader normalization potentially taking longer, while forecasts point to a sharp decline in affordable smartphone shipments.