The real reason your phone is getting more expensive

Apple is expected to raise prices on its next iPhones, signaling that rising memory costs are now hitting even the most efficient hardware supply chains. A global shortage of RAM and storage chips is reversing years of declining component prices that helped keep phones and other devices from getting much more expensive.

The trend suggests consumer electronics makers may have less room to absorb component inflation, especially as demand for memory grows from AI servers and high-end devices. If the crunch persists, chipflation could reshape pricing across phones, PCs, and gadgets, slowing upgrade cycles for consumers.