Nothing CEO Carl Pei Says RAM Is Now the Most Expensive Smartphone Component

Jakarta - One of the executives and founders of the technology brand Nothing, Carl Pei, has revealed that RAM (Random Access Memory) is currently the most expensive component in smartphones on the market, driven by the massive development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Pei disclosed this in a recent post on X, noting that his company’s latest phone, the Nothing (4a), was one of the products impacted by the surge in RAM prices. He said RAM prices literally doubled even before the product was released, and have now climbed even higher after the phone’s launch.

According to Pei, such a surge is forcing smartphone manufacturers into a difficult position, prompting across-the-board price increases. The rise in RAM costs can be seen in phones released in 2026, especially from February 2026 onwards. Many new smartphones have been released at prices $100 (approximately Rp1.7 million) higher than their predecessors.

With costs continuing to rise, significant discounts on newly released smartphones may become increasingly rare. Industry observers support this view, noting that memory RAM prices have soared sharply in 2026 due to the proliferation of AI. The impact is estimated to reach 10 to 30 percent on phone manufacturing costs, depending on the device class.

Nothing itself, developed by Carl Pei, has also taken similar steps by raising the prices of both the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro across all memory variants shortly after their launch in March 2026.

For consumers in need of a new smartphone, Carl Pei said the best time to get a new device was actually yesterday. However, the second-best time is right now. Waiting longer, he suggested, could mean paying more and missing out on the discounts commonly seen in recent years.

Not only Nothing, but other major competitors such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and Google are also facing the same challenge. The domino effect is not confined to the smartphone industry; it is also visible in other technology sectors like laptops. The latest Lenovo ThinkBook 16 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS has recently been found at a price nearly double that of January 2026.

Therefore, Carl Pei’s advice may serve as a meaningful consideration, especially for those thinking about replacing their gadgets to suit their needs.