- Low-end mobile phones will return to 4GB of RAM to keep prices down in the face of rising memory costs.
- The RAM crisis, driven by the demand for artificial intelligence, is reducing production destined for smartphones and laptops.
- A drop in models with 12 and 16 GB of RAM is expected, along with a surge in configurations with 4, 6, and 8 GB.
- Google and developers will have to optimize Android and apps to function acceptably with less memory.
In the next few months We're going to hear more and more about GB of RAM in mobile phonesBut not precisely because everything is rising uncontrollably. In fact, everything points to the market being on the verge of an unexpected turn: A new batch of smartphones that, instead of offering more memory, will come with less RAM than many current modelsespecially in the cheaper ranges.
This change has little to do with fashion or marketing and much to do with the memory costs and the rise of AIBetween the anticipated rise in chip prices and the enormous demand for RAM for data centers and AI servers, mobile phone manufacturers are being forced to readjust their configurations. The result will be a kind of "return to the past": We will once again see mobile phones with 4 GB of RAM on display.even at prices that don't exactly seem entry-level.
From the standard of 6 to 8 GB to the return of 4 GB of RAM
Until now, the entry-level and low-end segments in Europe and Spain had settled at a fairly reasonable figure for everyday use: 6 GB of RAM as starting pointThese phones came with 128 or 256 GB of internal storage in devices priced around €150. In practice, this allowed users to move smoothly between basic apps, do some multitasking, and play less demanding games without the phone freezing up at the slightest touch.
Above, the mid-range (around 250-300 euros) It has consolidated its position with OLED panels, better resolution, and configurations with between 6 and 8 GB of RAM.In addition to the 128-256 GB of internal storage that are now almost taken for granted. From there, the ladder kept going up: in the upper mid-range, close to 500 euros, The usual versions had 8 or 12 GB of RAM, while the models of high end For around 800 euros, they already offered 12 GB in their main variants and to 16 GB of RAM in more ambitious versions.
In the premium segment, above 1.000 euros, It has become normal to see smartphones with 12 GB of RAM as a base configuration and special editions that reach 16 or even 24 GBThese figures were specifically designed for power users, demanding games, and increasingly, advanced features of artificial intelligence on the device itself.
What's striking now is that, at the bottom of the table, that progress is going to come to a screeching halt. Everything indicates that the new models of entry-level and low-end They will again include 4GB of RAM as the base configurationAnd we're not talking about phones that cost 80 or 100 euros: many of these devices are expected to reach higher prices than current ones, taking advantage of the general increase in costs.
Why manufacturers are cutting RAM: more expensive chips and the return of the microSD slot
The explanation lies in the price of memory chips. Reports from analysis firms like TrendForce indicate that, during the first quarter of 2026, RAM and NAND memory prices will rise sharply againGiven this scenario, and according to leaks circulating on Asian platforms, mobile phone manufacturers face a complicated dilemma: either they aggressively raise the price of smartphones, or they cut back on the amount of memory included to keep the prices more or less in the same range.
Everything indicates that the majority will opt for the second option. Reducing the GB of RAM allows them to contain the manufacturing cost per unit without having to significantly increase the final retail price.In return, the user receives a mobile phone with somewhat more modest specifications in a key component, although on paper the design, camera or connectivity may still seem competitive for its range.
This adjustment wouldn't be limited to budget models. Industry reports suggest that phones with 16GB of RAM could gradually disappear from mainstream catalogs. remaining reserved for very specific editions. In parallel, A significant reduction in models with 12 GB of RAM is expected.which would be replaced by 6 or 8 GB variants to cut costs.
Even it 8GB RAM segment, which had become the benchmark for the mid-range, could be severely affectedForecasts indicate that the supply of mobile phones with 8 GB could drop by up to 50%This has led to more modest configurations of 4 or 6 GB in many devices that we would now consider more than enough for most users.
Meanwhile, an old acquaintance reappears: the microSD card slotBy selling phones with 64 GB of internal storage and, in some cases, 4 GB of RAM, manufacturers can save on integrated memory and offer users the option of expanding storage space only with a memory card. This helps to offset, at least partially, the feeling of "cutting back" and provides ample storage for those who need to save a lot of photos, videos, or games without significantly increasing the initial price of the device.
Impact of downgrading to 4GB of RAM: performance, resource-intensive apps, and AI
The decision to return to 4GB of RAM in low-end phones is not without consequences. With that amount, the operating system will still be usable, but clear limitations begin to appear in terms of... multitasking and performance in demanding applicationsYou'll close and open apps more frequently, switching between tasks will be slower, and some demanding games or creative tools simply won't work as well as on a device with 6 or 8 GB.
Furthermore, this memory reduction comes just as much of the new development in the sector revolves around Advanced AI-powered featuresSome of these features, such as smart photo and video editing and certain content creation tasks, require a considerable amount of RAM to run smoothly on the device itself. On many of these 4GB phones, these functions may be severely limited, rely more heavily on the cloud, or simply not available at all.
This will create a clearer gap between the different price ranges. Users who remain in the entry-level segment will not only experience lower raw performance, but also less access to “smart” features which will be present in the mid-range and high-end models. The leap between a 4GB phone and one with 8 or 12GB won't just be in speed, but also in everyday possibilities.
For those who use the phone primarily for Messaging, social media, calls, and some browsing.That reduction might be acceptable. But as the Android ecosystem and added services increasingly rely on AI, it will become more apparent that phones with 4GB of RAM are just barely adequate, without enough capacity to take full advantage of all the new software features that will be released.
In Europe and Spain, this will particularly affect users who traditionally looked for an affordable phone with "decent" RAM to last for several years. Buying a phone with 4GB of RAM now, thinking it will last a long time, could mean, in the medium term, opt out of updates sooner or new AI functions that simply won't be designed for that amount of memory.
Android, Google and developers: obligation to optimize for less GB of RAM
The other aspect of this change lies in the software. If the entry-level market shifts from the usual 6-8 GB to phones with 4 GB of RAM, Google will have no choice but to adjust its Android strategy. The system will have to to operate more efficiently with less memoryThis is quite reminiscent of what Apple has been doing for years with iOS, where iPhones handle RAM figures that are clearly lower than many Android offerings without feeling like they fall short in everyday use.
This implies changes at several levels: better management of background processes, greater control over apps that consume excessive resources. and a stricter policy for limiting non-priority tasks to ensure the phone continues to respond quickly to basic actions. We could also see greater segmentation of features, reserving certain more advanced characteristics for devices with 6 GB or more.
App developers won't be left out either. If the number of phones with 4GB of RAM grows, many apps will have to... optimize your memory usage Or, in specific cases, offer lighter versions with fewer graphics resources or fewer simultaneous functions. This is similar to what we've already seen with "Lite" versions of social networks and other popular apps in markets where phones with fewer resources are common.
In the gaming sector, the gap between titles designed for devices with 8 or 12 GB of RAM and those that can manage with 4 GB will likely become even wider. Already, some games recommend a minimum of 6 GB for adequate performance; with this new situation, developers will have to decide whether They are lowering their proposals Or, they simply target a range of more powerful devices and leave entry-level ones in the background.
All this movement occurs while The technology industry in general is experiencing a kind of fever for artificial intelligenceIt doesn't just affect mobile phones, but also... laptops and other consumer devicesBusinesses are starting to see the cost of adding more RAM increase. Brands like Dell and Lenovo have already begun warning their professional customers of upcoming memory-related price hikes, which aligns with the forecasts of specialized consulting firms.
In this context, Conventional RAM for mobile phones and PCs competes directly with high bandwidth memories intended for servers and data centers dedicated to AISince these products offer higher profit margins, chip manufacturers are prioritizing these business lines, reducing production of more "traditional" memories and, consequently, raising prices in the consumer market.
Everything suggests that the first few months of 2026 will be key to seeing how this new equilibrium takes hold. If the upward price forecasts materialize, it may become more appealing to many users. wait until the second half of the year before upgrading my mobile phone, while waiting for the market to stabilize or for more balanced alternatives to appear in terms of price, RAM and storage.
The picture that emerges regarding RAM in mobile phones is less linear than it has been in the last decade: it's no longer just about each generation offering more memory than the previous one, but about finding a a viable middle ground between cost, performance, and AI featuresIn the high-end market, there will continue to be very powerful devices, but at the lower end of the range, we'll see the return of configurations that seemed outdated, such as 4GB of RAM, along with microSD card slots and prices that are no longer necessarily associated with very modest devices. For the average user, it will be necessary to look more closely at the technical specifications before buying and have a very clear idea of what they expect from their phone in the medium term.
I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.
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