Phone buying window opens as '618' discounts offset rising chip prices

A favorable phone purchasing window currently exists, boosted by "618" shopping festival promotions and government subsidies on digital products, despite the rising memory chip prices, industry insiders said.

The comments came as market research companies warn that global memory chip prices are set to climb further in the second quarter, fueled by AI-driven demand and tight supply.

According to the market research company TrendForce, general-purpose DRAM contract prices are expected to rise 58 to 63 percent quarter-on-quarter, while NAND flash contract prices will jump 70 to 75 percent in the second quarter of 2026.

DRAM and NAND key memory chips are widely used in smartphones, PCs, tablets, and other digital products.

The upward trend is likely to persist. Citigroup projects DRAM average selling prices will surge 88 percent year-on-year and NAND prices 74 percent in 2026. Industry analysts widely agree that the ongoing memory "super cycle" is expected to be more intense and prolonged than the previous cycle.

For consumers with genuine replacement needs, industry observers suggest purchasing sooner rather than later, as smartphone makers will likely pass through rising memory costs in the second half of 2026.

A favorable purchasing window currently exists, boosted by "618" shopping festival promotions and government subsidies on digital products. For instance, the newly launched Honor 600 series is priced from 2,294 yuan ($338) after government subsidies, featuring the price segment's largest 8,600mAh battery and 4K Live portrait capabilities. The phone is part of Honor's broader push to target young consumers.