The AI memory shortage that recently pushed Xbox to $800 is now squeezing Qualcomm, which means your next Android phone will cost more, too. As I have mentioned before, Fall 2026 smartphone shopping just got harder to budget for. And these increases are not just limited to Apple; it’s now across the board.
I feel it is going to be a tough holiday tech-shopping season this year. My advice from earlier is to shop for what you truly need, not what you want. If it’s broken, fix it yourself or get it fixed. That’s usually less expensive. If it can’t be repaired, try to trade it in. Even a little bit of credit towards a new device can help. If you truly do need it, maybe go a version lower than you normally get. While I frequently don’t recommend getting the entry-level of any gadget, you may have to do that. If you can, try going one level up.
Regardless, expect more of these price-hike announcements in the future. It’s not going to go away until the supply chain stabilizes. And even then, I don’t expect the levels to fall back to where they were until production capacity ramps back up. But there is also the component suck coming from servicing AI infrastructure. So, it’s going to be a roller coaster. Buckle in!