Jakarta - One of the executives and founders of the technology brand\nNothing, Carl Pei, has revealed that RAM (Random Access Memory) is\ncurrently the most expensive component in smartphones on the market,\ndriven by the massive development of artificial intelligence (AI).<\/p>\n
Pei disclosed this in a recent post on X, noting that his company\u2019s\nlatest phone, the Nothing (4a), was one of the products impacted by the\nsurge in RAM prices. He said RAM prices literally doubled even before\nthe product was released, and have now climbed even higher after the\nphone\u2019s launch.<\/p>\n
According to Pei, such a surge is forcing smartphone manufacturers\ninto a difficult position, prompting across-the-board price increases.\nThe rise in RAM costs can be seen in phones released in 2026, especially\nfrom February 2026 onwards. Many new smartphones have been released at\nprices $100 (approximately Rp1.7 million) higher than their\npredecessors.<\/p>\n
With costs continuing to rise, significant discounts on newly\nreleased smartphones may become increasingly rare. Industry observers\nsupport this view, noting that memory RAM prices have soared sharply in\n2026 due to the proliferation of AI. The impact is estimated to reach 10\nto 30 percent on phone manufacturing costs, depending on the device\nclass.<\/p>\n
Nothing itself, developed by Carl Pei, has also taken similar steps\nby raising the prices of both the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro across\nall memory variants shortly after their launch in March 2026.<\/p>\n
For consumers in need of a new smartphone, Carl Pei said the best\ntime to get a new device was actually yesterday. However, the\nsecond-best time is right now. Waiting longer, he suggested, could mean\npaying more and missing out on the discounts commonly seen in recent\nyears.<\/p>\n
Not only Nothing, but other major competitors such as Samsung,\nXiaomi, and Google are also facing the same challenge. The domino effect\nis not confined to the smartphone industry; it is also visible in other\ntechnology sectors like laptops. The latest Lenovo ThinkBook 16 with an\nAMD Ryzen 5 7535HS has recently been found at a price nearly double that\nof January 2026.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Carl Pei\u2019s advice may serve as a meaningful consideration,\nespecially for those thinking about replacing their gadgets to suit\ntheir needs.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nothing-ceo-carl-pei-says-ram-is-now-the-most-expensive-smartphone-component-1781524454", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }