AI Demand Is Driving Up Memory Prices for Phones and Laptops — What It Means for Your IT Budget

Analysts are recording a rapid rise in prices for budget smartphones and laptops in the $200–300 range — a segment that has long formed the core of the mass market. The cause is a sharp jump in demand for memory chips (DRAM and NAND) from data centers scaling up capacity for training and running AI models. Device makers are forced to either raise prices or cut specifications.

For Kazakhstani businesses planning to purchase computers and mobile devices for staff as part of digitalization, this is a practical signal: budget for rising hardware prices over the coming quarters, and consider speeding up purchases if equipment is needed soon.

It's also worth keeping in mind that AI agents running in the cloud don't require buying expensive local hardware for every employee — access can be arranged through an ordinary browser or a mobile app. That reduces a business's exposure to swings in the memory and chip market when rolling out automation.