Phone, Laptop, and TV Prices May Rise Amid Storage Shortage: Western Digital Warns

After RAM shortages earlier, a storage crunch could now push up prices for smartphones, laptops, TVs, and other consumer electronics. Industry giant Western Digital has warned that it has already received orders equal to its entire production capacity for the year, signaling potential supply constraints for retail markets.

Impact on Consumer Electronics

Western Digital, the world’s largest manufacturer of hard disk drives (HDDs), has indicated that due to this high demand, devices that rely on built-in storage—such as phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs—could become significantly more expensive. Some companies are even booking orders for 2027 and 2028 in advance to secure supply.

RAM Prices Already Soaring

The industry has already experienced a 60% price increase in RAM over the past six months, driven largely by AI-related demand. Brands like Realme and Motorola have already raised smartphone prices by ₹3,000–4,000, while Samsung has increased prices of select models. Mid-range and budget devices have been most affected, while premium flagship models remain largely untouched.

AI Driving Demand for Storage

The surge in storage prices is being fueled by AI companies, which require massive RAM and storage capacity to power AI models, manage data backups, and store process logs. With the expansion of data centers, cloud service providers are placing large orders for storage solutions.

Supply Constraints Likely to Persist

Western Digital has confirmed that its 2026 production is already fully booked, and retail supply may be limited as a result. This shortage, combined with AI-driven demand, could make smartphones, laptops, and TVs more expensive in the coming months. Analysts warn that this trend may continue into 2027 and 2028, affecting both hardware prices and consumer budgets.

The storage shortage underscores the growing impact of AI on the technology supply chain, as companies compete for critical components to support advanced computing and data infrastructure.