Xiaomi warns of rising memory costs: phone and PC prices could climb in 2025
A fresh alarm bell is ringing across the device industry: memory prices are set to climb, and the impact could be felt most acutely next year. The warning comes from Ma Zhiyu, Product Marketing Director at Xiaomi, who flagged internal cost projections that point to a tougher 2025 for hardware makers and consumers alike.
The backdrop: Korean suppliers plan up to 30% hikes
Two weeks ago, Korea Economy Daily reported that Samsung and SK Hynix intend to raise prices for DRAM and NAND flash by up to 30% in Q4 2025. That would ripple straight into the bill of materials for everything from phones to PCs—any product anchored by storage and memory.
Xiaomi’s public warning
In an official post, Ma put it bluntly:
“Just got a look at the recent cost projections for next year, and it’s a little disconcerting. Yeah. It’s related to this Singles’ Day. If we can take advantage of national subsidies, we should take it while we can.”
He later emphasized that “all products with storage components will be affected,” and singled out PCs as most exposed because they require larger memory capacity. That view mirrors broader concerns swirling around the semiconductor supply chain.
Redmi adds fuel to the fire: “last chance” discounts
Suncun, a Redmi Product Manager, echoed the caution in a separate set of comments. She announced a ¥300 (≈$42) price cut on the Redmi K90 (12GB + 512GB) during its first sale—then suggested it might be the last time customers see such a reduction in the near term:
“But we can’t change the trend of the global supply chain. The rise in storage costs is much higher than we expected. But we hope this gesture can show our sincerity.”
With users already worrying about the affordability of 512GB smartphone variants, Suncun addressed the elephant in the room:
“Prices will rise next year. Futures and material costs we’ve already seen are all going up significantly and will only be higher than now.”
What it means for 2025
If memory pricing climbs as signaled, high-storage smartphones and memory-heavy PCs are likely to feel the squeeze first. Expect vendors to push limited-time promos while they can, lean harder on national subsidies where available, and potentially re-tier storage options to keep headline prices attractive.
Bottom line
Between supplier guidance and Xiaomi’s on-the-record comments, the direction of travel is clear: storage is getting pricier, and device prices—especially for higher-capacity models—could rise in 2025. If you were eyeing a 512GB phone or planning a RAM/SSD-rich PC, the smartest deal might be the one you can get now, not later.
