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Connecting the dots: Buying a smartphone for under $100 could soon become something you used to be able to do. According to the latest sales figures, this segment declined by 64% YoY in the second quarter – and there are no prizes for guessing why.
Counterpoint Research writes that US smartphone sales fell by 5% YoY in Q2 2026, with memory price increases the main culprit alongside other macroeconomic factors weakening consumer demand.
The market research firm writes that rising RAM demand from hyperscalers continues to drive up memory costs. Meanwhile, higher prices for other goods stemming from conflict in the Middle East are reducing consumers' purchasing power for smartphones and other electronics.
