INTC · News · 20260918N
Memory Price Inflation
INTEL CORP · 2026-09-18 · Importance 45 · Surprise 64 · In source text
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reportedly said memory prices have increased by approximately 500% to 700%, driven by constrained supply and strong AI demand. Memory reportedly represents roughly 75% of the cost of some lower-end phones and laptops, increasing system costs and potentially reducing customer spending on processors. Industry commentary expects the bottleneck to worsen in 2027, while new factory output may not materially ease shortages until 2028 or 2029.
Key facts
- Projections cited by the report suggest memory prices could be six times their mid-2025 level by the end of 2026. source
- Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said memory prices have jumped 5x to 7x. source
- Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated that memory chip prices have surged by 500-700% due to limited supply and high AI demand. source
- Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said memory now accounts for roughly 75% of the cost of some lower-end phones and laptops. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| revenue | positive | contingent | — | Projections cited by the report suggest memory prices could be six times their mid-2025 level by the end of 2026. |
| revenue | positive | contingent | — | Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated that memory chip prices have surged by 500-700% due to limited supply and high AI demand. |