3 6 Ke·2026-02-12 08:43Core Insights - The storage chip market has experienced a significant price surge since the second half of last year, with consumer-grade memory prices increasing by over 600%, making it a highly valuable investment product [1] - The demand for AI infrastructure has led to a depletion of production capacity among major storage chip manufacturers, including Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix, with all their HBM production capacity booked until 2026 [1][11] - The rising prices of storage chips have disproportionately affected low-end smartphones, particularly brands like Transsion, which saw a 22.6% revenue increase but an 11% drop in net profit in Q3 last year [3][4] Market Dynamics - The high profit margins associated with HBM memory used in AI chips have prioritized its production over consumer-grade products, leading to supply constraints for low-end smartphones [3] - Various smartphone manufacturers are shifting focus from low-priced product lines to higher-margin high-end models due to the impact of rising storage costs [4][12] - Transsion's market share dropped from fourth to "others" category, indicating a significant decline in its competitive position [3][4] Pricing and Cost Structure - The cost structure of low-end smartphones is heavily impacted by the rising prices of storage chips, which are considered a rigid cost that cannot be easily adjusted [5][8] - The BOM (Bill of Materials) cost for a 12GB+256GB iPhone Pro Max indicates that storage costs account for approximately 10% of total costs, highlighting the sensitivity of low-end models to price increases [8][9] - The average selling price (ASP) of smartphones is projected to exceed $400 for the first time, reflecting a shift towards higher-priced models as low-end market segments shrink [13][16] Supply Chain Challenges - The demand for AI-related products has created a seller's market for storage chips, leading to unpredictable cost structures for smartphone manufacturers, especially in the low-end segment [12] - Major companies like Apple are facing significant supply pressures, with only partial agreements in place for NAND Flash and DRAM supplies for the upcoming quarters [11] - Samsung's internal conflicts regarding storage pricing have further complicated supply chain management, as the mobile division struggles to secure favorable terms from the semiconductor division [12]