Rapidly rising memory costs in the smartphone market are forcing manufacturers to return to a feature long requested by users: the microSD card slot. Information from industry sources indicates that the sharp rise in memory prices is forcing manufacturers to find alternative solutions, and that this hardware is expected to return to new models starting in the second half of 2026.
The microSD era is starting again
The rapid rise in DRAM costs, in particular, has left smartphone manufacturers struggling to maintain their cost balance. This price pressure, faced by many major brands, including Samsung, has brought expandable storage back into the spotlight.
The price of a 12GB LPDDR5X memory module, which was $33 at the beginning of the year, has now risen to around $70. This sharp increase is confirmed by the fact that Samsung’s Memory division has imposed supply restrictions even on its own Mobile division, binding demand to three-month contracts.
The rise in memory prices in the industry is affecting not only smartphones but also desktop and laptop memory kits. Rumors that the DRAM shortage will persist until the last quarter of 2027 make it difficult for manufacturers to fully pass on the cost increase to consumers.
In this situation, companies are considering reducing internal storage options and making up the difference with microSD cards as a more viable solution.
Leaks from Chinese supply chains are also reinforcing this trend. Repeater 002, known for its reliable leaks, stated that there is an increasing flow of information suggesting that microSD card slots will be reintroduced to devices from various manufacturers after 2026. This is primarily due to uncontrollable memory supply costs.
If the microSD card slot returns, users will no longer have to pay significant premiums for higher storage options when purchasing a phone. While no design changes are expected for current models, there is a strong possibility that this feature will return in devices released in the second half of 2026.
