Minor relief is in sight next year, when prices of memory and NAND flash will start to gradually decline. But prices will plummet big time in 2019, said Jon Erensen, research director for semiconductors at Gartner.
The prices of PCs, smartphones, and tablets are going up, with higher component prices to blame. Shortages in DRAM, flash, batteries and displays are hitting buyers in the wallet.
Minor relief is in sight next year when prices of memory and NAND flash — which is used in SSDs — will start to gradually decline. But prices will plummet big time in 2019, predicted Jon Erensen, research director for semiconductors at Gartner.
The impact could be felt on the prices of PCs and mobile devices. But it’s too early to predict the exact impact of the projected NAND and DRAM price crashes on PCs and mobile devices, Erensen said.
If the prices drop, it may be affordable for computer users to acquire components off the shelf and build PCs at home. But the prices of pre-made devices, in the end, depend on what PC makers do with the savings resulting from cheaper component pricing.
It’s possible that prices of PC and mobile devices will head back down, which has been the general trend for more than a decade. But some companies may opt for profits rather than pass the savings on to buyers, much like Apple has done historically.
Mobile device and PC prices could also remain high, but buyers should then get more bang for the buck. For the same prices, devices will be able to pack in more memory, more storage, and higher resolution screens.
Since the middle of 2016, PC DRAM pricing has doubled, according to Gartner. A 4GB module is now US$25, increasing from $12.
