Samsung says the global memory market is set to remain under pressure for several more years, with supply expected to tighten further in 2027 and stay constrained until at least 2028. The company, which produces about one-third of the world's memory chips, points to sustained demand from AI infrastructure as a key driver.
During its second-quarter earnings call, Samsung noted that leading AI labs are already sharing medium- and long-term demand plans to secure future memory capacity. That visibility gives chipmakers more confidence to expand production and invest in equipment, while also encouraging long-term supply agreements.
The shift is reshaping the industry's rhythm. Instead of the usual cycle of oversupply and slowdown, memory makers now have a clearer path to scale output as AI data centers absorb more capacity. At the same time, rising chip prices are influencing the broader electronics market.
Samsung's semiconductor division posted a record quarter, but higher component costs have weighed on its smartphone and TV businesses. The company has also adjusted prices for some Galaxy phones and tablets, reflecting the new cost environment across the supply chain.
The impact is spreading across the tech ecosystem. Apple has also raised prices on several devices, while chipmakers and graphics card vendors are adapting to the same supply squeeze. As production continues to move toward AI-focused hardware, consumer devices may remain more expensive in the near term.
For the tech industry, this marks a turning point where memory chips are becoming a strategic foundation of the AI era, potentially shaping how devices are built, priced, and scaled in the years ahead.
