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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The smartphone market is dealing with strain as a result of provide constraints of reminiscence chips
- Telephones launched in 2026 have been underwhelming, and plenty of have seen worth hikes.
- The highest telephones from 2025 are discounted now, making them a greater buy than newer units.
When you’re out there for a brand new smartphone, you may be higher off shopping for one from 2025 proper now. Latest telephones, particularly mid-rangers, have delivered underwhelming upgrades, whereas additionally seeing worth hikes.
As companies scoop increasingly more reminiscence for his or her AI information facilities and {hardware}, fewer reminiscence chips can be found for shopper merchandise. That is making a scarcity and subsequent worth will increase. The telephones launched in 2026 are dealing with more durable competitors from their predecessors than from their rivals.
The dilemma with new telephones in 2026
In accordance with a December report from IDC, the scarcity of DRAM and NAND chips utilized in PCs, smartphones, and different shopper electronics is placing strain on the general market. IDC expects the smartphone market to proceed dealing with strain this 12 months.
“The price construction of a smartphone is closely depending on the reminiscence used,” IDC analysts defined. “For a mid-range gadget, reminiscence can symbolize 15-20% of the overall invoice of supplies (BOM), whereas for a high-end flagship gadget, it’s round 10-15%. As reminiscence costs proceed to surge, OEMs will possible have to lift costs considerably, lower specs, or each.”
A Counterpoint Analysis report from February states that RAM costs are spiking, reaching 3 times final 12 months’s ranges. The harshest after-effects shall be on the most cost effective telephones, which function on already-thin margins and usually tend to see their earnings evaporate and not using a worth improve.
We’ve been noticing these shifts in Google’s Pixel 10a and Samsung’s Galaxy A57, that are largely unchanged this 12 months. Whereas the Google cellphone is now all the way down to $450 on Amazon in comparison with its $500 launch worth, the Galaxy A57 is $50 dearer at $550 (versus the $500 Galaxy A56 at launch).
Alternatively, lower-end Motorola G-series telephones at the moment are as much as $100 dearer on the official web site, as first noticed by PhoneArena. Whereas Amazon continues to be promoting them at previous costs, any worth hike within the price range phase stings greater than a $100 or perhaps a $200 increase on a flagship cellphone.
That is why, in the event you’re on a price range, it is best to have a look at 2025 telephones as a substitute of shopping for a more moderen mannequin. Here is the place the excellent news is available in.
Your greatest options exist already (and for much less cash)
When new telephones do not provide significant upgrades, older ones turn out to be extra interesting, particularly at discounted costs. Here is a breakdown of some worthwhile choices, primarily based on our testing.
The newest Google Pixel 10a, with an outdated Tensor G4 chipset from 2024 and older cameras, launched at $500 a couple of months in the past. Whereas it is nonetheless $300 lower than final 12 months’s Pixel 10 at retail worth, the Pixel 10, which provides extra RAM (12GB versus 8GB), a devoted telephoto digital camera, and even PixelSnap magnetic wi-fi charging, may be had in the present day for as little as $550 — pending reductions.
In some circumstances, you might even be capable of purchase a second-hand Pixel 10 gadget for lower than that, with the largest caveat being that you simply void any retailer’s insurance coverage. Objectively talking, it is nonetheless a a lot better-value cellphone choice.
Samsung
For Samsung, I would suggest final 12 months’s Galaxy S25 collection, which incorporates fashions spec’ed equally to this 12 months’s Galaxy S26 collection, from the bottom mannequin to the Plus to the Extremely.
Contemplating the modest upgrades we noticed within the newest telephones, together with no main digital camera or battery modifications, the S25 collection continues to be extremely really useful in 2026. Simply do not count on Samsung to supply essentially the most aggressive trade-in provides in the event you resolve to purchase one immediately from the shop.
Apple
Apple’s trajectory seems totally different — a minimum of for now. Following the excessive value-for-money debut of the MacBook Neo, the iPhone 17 collection maintains that momentum. By holding the road on pricing relative to the iPhone 16 whereas introducing a versatile 18MP selfie digital camera, a sooner processor, and 120Hz shows on base fashions, Apple has considerably raised the ground for customers.
Whereas the $600 iPhone 17e is a more durable promote on worth alone, its year-over-year upgrades nonetheless outpace midrange choices from Samsung and Google, making it, too, a viable choice this 12 months.
Backside line
However because it stands, 2026 is shaping as much as be a “skip” 12 months for shoppers. With provide constraints driving costs up and innovation plateaus diminishing returns, older fashions at present provide far superior worth.
Whereas we are able to hope for a market correction, the period of “extra for much less” is much less frequent by the day — and this stagnation is the brand new regular, making it all of the extra vital for shoppers such as you to buy smarter, not more durable.
