Archive · 31 Jul 2026
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
- When
- Effective September 1, 2026
- Where
- Global smartphone and electronics market
- Why
- Due to memory chip shortage and higher manufacturing costs
- 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
