Major laptop and smartphone manufacturers are expected to lower base memory configurations starting next year, according to industry analysts. Devices that once treated 8GB of RAM as an entry-level minimum are now likely to return to that capacity as the default standard, while 16GB and higher configurations shift firmly into premium pricing tiers. The change reflects constrained supply rather than falling demand.
Experts say the adjustment will not translate into cheaper devices. Memory shortages, combined with strong demand from data centers and AI workloads, are keeping component prices elevated. As a result, manufacturers are optimizing margins by limiting higher-memory options instead of lowering retail prices.
Smartphones are expected to follow a similar path. Entry-level and midrange models may see memory capacity reduced by as much as half, reinforcing a clearer divide between mass-market and premium devices in the coming product cycles.