廉价手机时代终结？IDC：存储短缺正引发前所未有的危机

Core Insights - The global smartphone market is projected to shrink by 12.9% by 2026 due to an unprecedented shortage of storage chips, marking a significant crisis for the industry [1] - IDC forecasts that global smartphone shipments will drop to approximately 1.1 billion units in 2026, down from 1.26 billion units the previous year, erasing years of slow growth [1] - The ongoing chip cost surge, affecting both DRAM and NAND, is squeezing the already thin profit margins of many Android device brands, leading manufacturers to cut product specifications and eliminate unprofitable entry-level models [1] Industry Impact - The storage shortage is expected to last until at least mid-2027, with significant changes anticipated in market scale, average selling prices, and competitive dynamics before the crisis resolves [1] - High-end smartphones, such as most of Apple's iPhone lineup, are better positioned to weather the crisis, although companies like Xiaomi and Lenovo have warned that consumer prices may need to increase [2] - The era of affordable smartphones priced below $100 is considered no longer viable, with approximately 170 million units shipped last year in that segment [2]