The memory crisis is killing off sub-$100 smartphones as US sales plunge 64%

The memory crisis is killing off sub-$100 smartphones as US sales plunge 64%

Sub-$100 phones fell 64% YoY in Q2 2026 as hyperscaler AI pushed memory to 60% of device costs, forcing OEMs to exit. AI infrastructure is squeezing consumer margins and consolidating market power in major vendors; component inflation will eliminate budget segments.