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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Scott Younker

'Largest drop ever': IDC predicts dire smartphone market in 2026 over memory shortage crisis

A bunch of phones showing their cameras.

The AI-fueled RAM crisis has already deeply affected PC manufacturers and is coming for your TV too. Now though, a new forecast from research firm IDC suggests smartphones will be significantly affected by RAMaggedon.

Compared to last year, IDC is forecasting that smartphone shipments will decline by 13% in 2026, which would be the lowest amount in more than a decade.

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