The year 2026 is shaping up to be a challenging one for mobile phone manufacturers across the board.

With memory chip prices on the rise, the cost of producing mobile phones has surged, compelling manufacturers to hike their prices. As a result, mobile phone prices have climbed, leading to a sharp decline in sales.

Data indicates that in the first three quarters of 2026, global mobile phone sales have plummeted by over 15%, with the possibility of a full-year decline ranging from 15% to 20%.

Consequently, by the latter half of 2026, nearly all mobile phone manufacturers have resorted to order cuts.

Earlier reports revealed that Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo have slashed their production plans for the year. Subsequently, Samsung also announced a 30% reduction in orders for the fourth quarter, all attributed to sluggish phone sales, prompting a scaling back of production plans to prevent excessive inventory buildup.

Recently, it has even come to light that Apple has begun trimming orders for the iPhone 18 Pro, as sales of its new phones have fallen short of expectations, leading to a more cautious approach.

This outcome likely comes as no surprise to many.

After all, memory prices have soared. Whether you're Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, or OPPO/Vivo, the memory cost for a 12+256GB phone has escalated by at least 1,000 yuan compared to the previous year.

Under such circumstances, consumers are bound to weigh their options. They'll compare last year's prices with this year's and question the rationale behind making a purchase.

Furthermore, current phones lack groundbreaking innovations, with only routine updates each year, and most performance specifications are already excessive. Frankly speaking, as long as the old phone in hand is still functional, there's no urgent need to upgrade for a few more years.

Consequently, fewer people are buying phones, manufacturers are charging higher prices but selling fewer units, and naturally, orders are dwindling. Many previous plans have become unattainable, leading to order reductions.

Currently, within the entire mobile phone industry chain, it's estimated that only memory chip manufacturers are reaping profits. Chip sales are down, screen sales are down, and all supply chains are grappling with reduced shipments. Only memory, despite decreased shipments, has witnessed prices skyrocket four to five times, resulting in substantially higher profits.

In the words of industry insiders, memory chips are now siphoning off resources from the entire industry. Everyone is funneling their profits to memory manufacturers, incurring losses themselves, while only memory chips are enjoying massive profits. For instance, Samsung's annual profit now surpasses the combined profits of the past 40 years.