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AI's Memory Shortage Could Push TV Prices Significantly Higher

The artificial intelligence boom is creating a global RAM shortage—an event that industry insiders have playfully dubbed "RAMageddon." What's interesting here is that this memory crunch extends far beyond computers. TVs, gaming consoles, smartphones, and even smart home devices are all at risk of becoming considerably more expensive. But before you panic about upgrading your setup, there's some good news worth considering.

If you're thinking about buying a new TV, now might actually be a better time than waiting.

AI Demand Is Driving Memory Chip Prices Through the Roof

According to reporting from Axios, modern smart TVs typically require between 1GB and 8GB of RAM to power their smart features and handle video processing. Over the past year alone, the cost of memory chips commonly used in 4K televisions has jumped more than four times.

Manufacturers will almost certainly pass these increased costs down to consumers. Market research firm TrendForce believes TV price hikes are essentially "unavoidable," and Samsung has already admitted it may need to adjust its pricing strategy.

Here's the silver lining: TVs consume relatively modest amounts of memory and use simpler chip architectures compared to personal computers or mobile phones. So while TV prices will probably climb, the increases should be less dramatic than what we'll see in other tech categories. We'll get a clearer picture of actual pricing once manufacturers reveal their 2026 TV lineups.

The root cause of all this? The explosive growth of AI data centers. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia are buying enormous quantities of memory chips to power their AI infrastructure.

The real concern is that TV manufacturers simply can't compete with these tech titans in terms of purchasing power. When memory supplies tighten, prices spike—and smaller companies end up squeezed harder than the industry heavyweights. Product launch timelines get pushed back, and profit margins shrink. Marco Mezger, Executive Vice President at memory tech firm Neumonda, points out that smaller businesses feel the pain of supply constraints far more acutely than massive tech conglomerates.

AI memory shortage impacts TV pricing

Why Right Now Is Your Window to Buy

Good news: rising RAM costs haven't yet hit TV retail prices. This makes the current moment one of the best windows for grabbing a new TV. In fact, smart TV prices have actually dropped about 15% between 2024 and early 2026. On top of that, retailers typically slash prices during this season to clear shelf space for upcoming models.

The TVs sitting on store shelves today were priced before the RAM crisis really squeezed supply chains. That means you can still find some genuinely attractive deals—like Samsung's 65-inch OLED model going for around $900.

There's another factor keeping TV prices competitive: many manufacturers offset thin hardware margins by harvesting user data through their smart TV platforms. They're making money elsewhere, which lets them keep sticker prices reasonable.

Bottom line? The current TV market is loaded with discounts. If you've been considering a purchase, you probably shouldn't drag your feet much longer.

How Long Will the Memory Shortage Last?

Nobody has a definitive answer yet. But most industry analysts believe the memory market probably won't stabilize until at least 2028.

AI-related demand is projected to consume roughly 70% of all premium DRAM production by 2026. This means chip makers are prioritizing memory chips for AI data centers over the less advanced chips needed for TVs and appliances.

Even though investors are pouring billions into expanding memory chip manufacturing, building new factories is agonizingly slow. In Taiwan, getting a new fab up and running takes about 19 months—and the timeline is even longer in the United States.

The upshot? TV prices—and plenty of other consumer electronics—are likely to stay elevated for several years.

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