The IDC figures are preliminary, and Counterpoint's estimate differs from them. Memory prices have not yet peaked, so the cost pressure is not over. IDC expects handset shipment growth to stay under pressure through 2027, with any recovery arriving in 2028 at the earliest. IDC's February forecast of a 12.9% decline in 2026 has already been overtaken by the third-quarter numbers, so further revisions are likely.
For attorneys, the near-term issue is pricing. Budget Android devices are getting more expensive, and IDC does not expect memory prices to return to 2025 levels even after the crisis ends. Clients that buy devices in volume, or that build pricing and product plans around handset costs, should revisit assumptions now. Watch for further price increases, specification cuts, and product discontinuations, along with any contract or supply disputes tied to memory component costs.