Buy Now or Wait? What the Memory Shortage Means for Phone and Laptop Prices

Why are phone and laptop prices going up?

Memory chips are getting more expensive, and supply is tight. DRAM is the working memory that runs your apps, and NAND is the flash storage that holds your files. Phones and laptops need both. IDC expects 2026 DRAM supply to grow 16% and NAND supply 17%, both below historical norms. In December 2025, TrendForce projected that memory prices would “rise sharply again in the first quarter of 2026.”

How much could phone prices rise in 2026?

IDC's February 2026 forecast is a global figure. It expects average smartphone selling prices to rise 14% to a record $523 this year, and smartphone shipments to fall 12.9% (TechCrunch). Those averages cover every market, so a store in Vietnam may show a different picture.

The cheapest phones take the hardest hit. Counterpoint's Yang Wang said that “lower-end smartphones are likely to be affected the most, especially as LPDDR4 supply is shrinking faster than expected.” IDC's Nabila Popal added that rising component costs could make the sub-$100 smartphone “permanently uneconomical.” If that holds, very cheap phones will become harder to find.

IDC's analysis also says price rises will be “significantly higher in the low end of the market.” At the high end, Apple and Samsung “face pressure but are structurally hedged.”

What about laptops?

IDC says the PC market is “bracing for disruption.” In its moderate downside scenario, the PC market could contract 4.9%, and by up to 8.9% under a pessimistic one. In those scenarios, PC average selling prices would likely rise by 4% to 6%. The same post says Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer and ASUS have warned clients of “tougher conditions ahead.” TrendForce's December 2025 release expected “more significant price fluctuations” in the PC market by the second quarter of 2026. It gives no percentage for notebook price rises, so none is quoted here.

Are brands cutting specs as well as raising prices?

Yes, according to TrendForce. Its December 2025 release says that “smartphone and notebook brands are compelled to increase their product prices and reduce specifications.” That wording covers smartphones and notebooks, so the cut is not limited to budget models. A price that stays the same can still come with less than last year's model offered, so compare the spec sheet as well as the price tag.

What do iPhones cost in Vietnam in October 2026?

Vietnamnet's October 17 price guide lists reference prices for 128GB models. The iPhone 13 is VND 12 million (about US$455), which the article calls the most affordable model on its list. The iPhone 16e is VND 14 million (about US$530), which the article calls “a compelling alternative” for buyers with about that budget. These are reference prices from one article, and the guide covers only 128GB models, so it shows the entry storage tier rather than the full range. Check the store's price on the day you buy.

Do big brands and small brands feel the squeeze the same way?

Not quite. IDC says PC vendors “with larger shipment volumes should be better positioned to navigate current supply constraints.” It also says white box and lower-tier vendors, “often local,” will “bear the greatest burden of the shortage.” For a shopper, a laptop from a brand you have never heard of could be the most exposed to price changes or model cuts, so check the warranty and service options before you buy.

How long could the squeeze last?

IDC expects RAM prices to stabilize by mid-2027, according to TechCrunch. Stabilizing is not the same as falling back to earlier levels, and none of the sources here forecasts that return. None gives a date for a fall, and none says whether Vietnam will ease faster or slower than the wider market. The TrendForce outlook covers only the first quarter of 2026, so it is the older of the two forecasts.

Should you buy now or wait?

None of these sources gives a date for a price fall. IDC's 14% rise is measured against 2025 averages, so the forecasts point to 2026 prices sitting above last year's. IDC's stabilization date is about eight months after this article, and stable prices are not lower prices. Waiting means betting on a drop that the sources do not describe. Most of these figures are global forecasts or single-article prices, so read them as the direction of prices, not as a precise forecast for Vietnam.

If your current phone or laptop still does the job, waiting costs little. If you need a device now for work or study, the sources give no reason to hold off.

What should you check on the spec sheet?

Start with RAM and storage, since those are the parts the shortage touches most directly. Some thin laptops solder their memory to the board, so the amount you buy is the amount you keep. Check whether the RAM can be upgraded later, and buy the capacity you need for the next few years rather than only for today.

Then look at the model year. A new model with the same name can carry a smaller memory setup than the one it replaces, which is the spec cut TrendForce describes.

How do you check a deal before you buy?

Start with the spec you need, such as RAM and storage, before you look at any price. Then compare that spec with the previous model, since brands are reducing specifications. Next, check the price in VND at two stores, and confirm the warranty and service centre for that brand in your city. VietNamNet also reports that some officially distributed iPhones are discounted this October, so a discounted older model is worth comparing with a new one. Write the prices down with the date you saw them, so the next listing has something to compare against.

What should you write down first?

Write down the RAM and storage you need, and the price you can pay now, before you open any price list. The decision then depends on your need, not on guessing where the market goes next.