For years, smartphone buyers have followed a simple rule: more RAM means a better phone. But the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is changing that equation. The latest developments in the smartphone industry suggest that memory technology itself is becoming one of the most important parts of the AI race.

The reason is simple: modern AI features need enormous amounts of data to be processed quickly. As smartphone makers add on-device AI tools for photography, translation, assistants and productivity, demand for advanced memory is increasing.

Why AI needs so much memory

Traditional smartphone applications generally rely on the processor and storage to handle most tasks. AI applications are different.

An AI model can contain billions of parameters, and processing those models requires fast access to data. This is where technologies such as LPDDR memory become important.

The faster the memory, the more efficiently a phone can move information between the processor and memory while performing demanding AI operations.

The AI boom is already affecting smartphone memory

The growing demand for AI-capable devices has contributed to pressure in the smartphone memory market. Reports indicate that the AI boom is affecting memory supply and costs, creating challenges for smartphone manufacturers and potentially influencing device prices.

At the same time, newer memory standards are beginning to appear in upcoming smartphones. China's CXMT, for example, is reportedly supplying LPDDR6 memory for an upcoming Xiaomi foldable phone, highlighting how quickly the industry is moving toward newer memory technology.

Does more RAM still matter?

Yes, but the situation is becoming more complicated.

A phone with more RAM can keep more applications and processes active simultaneously. However, simply increasing the RAM number doesn't automatically make a smartphone faster.

The processor, memory speed, software optimisation and AI processing capabilities all play a role.

This means a well-optimised phone with slightly less RAM could potentially provide a better experience than a poorly optimised device with a much larger memory capacity.

AI could make phones more expensive

The increasing demand for advanced memory could eventually affect smartphone prices.

Manufacturers have to balance several expensive components, including processors, displays, camera sensors, batteries and memory. If memory costs rise while companies simultaneously add more AI hardware, maintaining the same price points could become increasingly difficult.

This could be particularly important for mid-range smartphones, where manufacturers operate with tighter margins.

What should buyers look for?

If you're planning to buy a smartphone, don't judge it only by the RAM number printed on the specifications sheet.

Instead, look at:

• RAM capacity and type
• Processor and its AI capabilities
• Storage technology
• Software update support
• On-device AI features
• Battery capacity and efficiency

AI is gradually becoming a standard smartphone feature rather than a premium extra. Current smartphone listings already show a wide range of AI-focused devices in the Indian market, demonstrating how quickly the category is expanding.

The next smartphone race may be about AI, not cameras

For years, smartphone companies competed primarily on camera quality, display refresh rates and charging speeds. The next major competition could increasingly revolve around how much AI a phone can perform locally and how efficiently it can do it.

That could make something most users rarely think about—memory technology—one of the biggest factors determining how capable future smartphones become.