1 month ago
Qualcomm Raises Snapdragon Prices Amid Memory Shortage
Qualcomm, a big maker of phone chips, said it will raise the price of its Snapdragon chips by a lot starting September 1.
The reason is that the memory chips needed to build these processors are running out because companies are using them for AI computers.
This will make new phones and gadgets a bit more expensive.
Qualcomm also said its main factory, TSMC, will raise its own prices, adding to the cost.
The company’s sales of phone chips fell last quarter, and it is losing some business to Apple’s own chip makers.
Qualcomm announced double‑digit price hikes for most Snapdragon chips effective September 1, 2026, citing rising memory and manufacturing costs.
The hikes are driven by a global DRAM shortage as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron shift capacity to high‑bandwidth memory for AI data‑center servers.
TSMC, Qualcomm’s main foundry, is also raising prices by 5‑10 %, adding to the cost pressure on Qualcomm.
The price increases are expected to raise flagship smartphone costs by up to $300 and affect premium Android models such as Samsung Galaxy S26, OnePlus 15, Xiaomi 15, and Oppo Find X9 Ultra.
Qualcomm’s revenue from smartphone chipsets fell 20 % in Q3 2026, and the company is losing market share to Apple’s in‑house modems.
- Who
- Qualcomm and CEO Cristiano Amon
- What
- Announced double‑digit price hikes for most Snapdragon chips
- Where
- Global smartphone and electronics market
- When
- Effective September 1, 2026
- Why
- Due to memory chip shortage and higher manufacturing costs
Key facts
- Company
- Qualcomm
- CEO
- Cristiano Amon
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Price Increase
- Double‑digit percentage
- Affected Products
- Snapdragon chips in premium Android phones, VR/AR headsets
Quotes
Akash Palkhiwala
Chief Financial Officer of Qualcomm
“We now expect an acceleration in the step‑down of Apple product revenues starting in the fourth fiscal quarter as our share for upcoming iPhone launch is expected to be lower than our prior estimate of 20 percent”
telegraphindia.com
“Qualcomm’s price increase will add another layer of cost pressure for smartphone makers, who are already dealing with a current upwards of 300 percent surge in memory prices”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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