https://archive.is/472mi

Flagship smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm is warning that companies will build fewer phones, period — and that remaining phones will be more expensive. CEO Cristiano Amon says a big dip in its smartphone business will be “100 percent” because of the memory shortage. Here are some choice quotes from Amon on the company’s February 4th earnings call:

“Unfortunately, I think that the whole sector is impacted by memory.”
“Industry-wide memory shortage and price increases are likely to define the overall scale of the handset industry through the fiscal year.”
“OEMs are very likely to prioritize premium and high-tier, how they have done in the past.”
“We just wish there was more memory.”
CFO Akash Palkhiwala also said: “We’ve seen several OEMs, especially in China, take actions to reduce their handset build plans and channel inventory.”

How much more might you pay? Hard to say, but IDC points out that memory represents 15–20 percent of the materials cost of a midrange phone, and about 10–15 percent of a high-end flagship phone.