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For years, Samsung’s Galaxy A phones have been some of the easiest recommendations for anyone who wants to go the Android route without paying flagship prices. But that part of the lineup could soon become harder to find at a good price.
According to South Korea’s Electronic Times, Samsung is cutting Galaxy A production by about 20% in the fourth quarter compared to its original plans. Component orders have reportedly dropped by a similar amount, which could mean roughly 10 million fewer phones over the year. Samsung is also said to be considering another production cut of more than 10% next year.
Why is Samsung making fewer Galaxy A phones?
The problem is cost. Memory prices have risen so sharply that memory can now make up more than half the total cost of some budget and midrange smartphones. Supplies for other components are also getting tighter as manufacturers prioritize parts used in more profitable AI hardware. Samsung is reportedly responding by directing more components toward its Galaxy S and Galaxy Z phones, where it has more room to absorb those higher costs.
The company is not alone. Nothing recently canceled its next CMF phone after deciding it could no longer deliver a meaningful upgrade at the price buyers expected. It said the existing $279 CMF Phone 2 Pro would cost between $320 and $370 if released today with the exact same specifications.
Budget phone buyers could end up paying more for less
Omdia previously estimated that shipments of phones priced below $400 could fall by more than 22% this year as rising memory costs eat into already thin margins. For Galaxy A buyers, the result could be fewer choices, higher prices, or weaker hardware for the same money. One industry source cited by Electronic Times even warned that future phones could launch at higher prices despite using downgraded displays or cameras.
So, is there any hope for the market to normalize? Well, statements from Samsung and Micron executives suggest no relief is expected until 2028. RAM and NAND manufacturers are working to increase production capacity by building new facilities, but that will take time, and prices for budget devices, as well as midrangers and flagships, will likely continue climbing in the meantime. So, if you are planning to buy a new smartphone, it’s probably better to do it now than wait and get hit with another price hike.
