Artificial Intelligence Could Make Your Next TV More Expensive.
The RAM shortage caused by the artificial intelligence boom dubbed “Ramageddon” is affecting more than just personal computer prices. AI could also make new TVs more expensive, as well as game consoles, mobile phones, high-tech coffee makers, and anything else with memory and a processor. But if you’re planning on buying a new TV, it might be better to do it sooner rather than later.
As Axios reports , TVs typically require between 1 and 8 GB of RAM to run smart TV features and process video and data, and the cost of memory modules commonly used in 4K TVs has more than quadrupled in the past year . These additional costs could be passed on to consumers: analyst TrendForce stated last month that TV price increases are “inevitable,” and Samsung acknowledged that it may have to revise its pricing. However, the typical TV uses less memory, and less advanced memory, than some other key devices, so potential price increases are likely to be less dramatic than with PCs and smartphones. We’ll see exactly how this plays out when manufacturers announce pricing for their 2026 models.
What causes low RAM?
Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia are buying up memory stocks to power data centers powered by artificial intelligence, and most TV manufacturers don’t have the same market power as these giants. “When memory shortages increase, prices rise, product launch schedules shift… margins shrink, and smaller companies have a harder time than the big tech giants,” Marco Metzger, executive vice president of memory technology company Neumonda, told Axios . However, there is some good news for consumers.
Why is now the right time to buy a new TV?
The RAM price hike hasn’t yet reached the retail TV market, making it an exceptionally good time to buy a TV. Overall, smart TV prices have dropped 15% between 2024 and early 2026 , so you’re starting from a good position. Furthermore, manufacturers typically offer lower prices at this time of year to free up shelf space before the release of new models. While more expensive RAM may be factored into the price of 2026 TVs, the prices of the models currently on sale were set before the shortage hit the retail market. Furthermore, some companies are pricing their TVs lower because they make a lot of money harvesting your data —unless, of course, you do everything possible to thwart them . All this leads to incredible deals, like this 65-inch OLED TV from Samsung for $900. Bottom line: If you’re looking to buy a new TV, don’t wait. (Although, most likely, you won’t need a new TV .)
How long is the RAM shortage likely to last?
No one can say for sure how long the memory shortage will last, but industry analysts agree that we likely won’t see a return to anything resembling normalcy until 2028. Demand for AI is projected to consume 70% of all high-performance DRAM by 2026, so manufacturers are prioritizing it over less sophisticated and less-demanded memory chips used in TVs and home appliances. While investors are pouring billions into ramping up memory production, it takes about 19 months to get a factory up and running in Taiwan, and even longer in the US, so TV prices will likely remain high until 2028.