Memory Shortage Squeezes Budget Devices Through 2027

SK Hynix's CEO projects the memory chip shortage could last until at least 2027. The crunch is squeezing budget phone and laptop makers, with availability—not only price—deciding what ships. Experts say smartphone shipments could drop 13.9% this year. Fairphone, Jolla and Framework are redesigning motherboards. Jolla is building dual motherboard options for flexibility; Framework uses modular memory so older parts still fit. Manufacturers are taking non-cancellable orders far in advance and testing every incoming batch to catch refurbished chips sold as new. Pricing responses differ: some change prices with costs, some sell paid upgrades, some hold prices steady. The shortage could push makers to drop entry-level models. What is contested: The record shows no factual disputes among the sources. Unresolved is how long supply takes to normalize past the 2027 mark and which entry-level lines, if any, get cut.