Samsung and Android manufacturers may reduce RAM in future smartphones

Rising memory costs driven by the demand for artificial intelligence may lead smartphone manufacturers to reduce RAM capacities in upcoming devices. Reports suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S27 series could see a downgrade in base configurations, potentially starting with 8GB of RAM instead of the 12GB standard found in the Galaxy S25 and S26 models.

The trend may extend across the broader Android ecosystem. Industry leaks indicate that entry-level smartphones arriving around 2027 could revert to 4GB of RAM, a significant decrease from the 6GB or 8GB currently common in budget segments. Such a reduction could impact the performance of future operating systems, such as Android 17, which may require more memory for smooth multitasking.

Major memory producers, including Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, are reportedly prioritizing high-capacity memory for AI applications, contributing to the rising costs that are forcing manufacturers to reconsider hardware specifications for mid-range and budget devices.