Samsung hikes component costs and moves Galaxy A18 5G to Snapdragon

Samsung announced that it will raise the price of DRAM memory for contracted customers by up to 20% and increase NAND‑flash costs by 10‑15% in the third quarter of 2026. The hikes are driven by soaring demand for artificial‑intelligence infrastructure, which is creating a supply bottleneck for the chips used in smartphones, tablets and laptops. Analysts expect the higher component costs to be passed on to consumers, potentially delaying purchases and prompting manufacturers to trim memory specifications in mid‑range devices.

At the same time, Samsung confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy A18 5G will abandon its in‑house Exynos processor and adopt a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, while the 4G variant will continue with a MediaTek processor. The change is aimed at reducing the bill of materials amid the rising prices of key components, ensuring the device remains competitively priced in the crowded mid‑range market.