Why your next smart TV could cost more in 2026

For the past couple of months, one of the biggest stories in tech has been the skyrocketing price of RAM (Random Access Memory), the tiny memory chips that are an essential part of any computer. At CES 2026, tons of companies are showing off new laptops, smart TVs, and gadgets that look impressive, but the big question is whether they’ll cost a lot more simply because RAM chips are in such short supply, caused by AI companies buying up large swaths of RAM to increase server capacity.

Most of the conversation around rising RAM prices has focused on desktop PCs and laptops, but smart TVs could be affected, too. They rely on RAM to run their operating systems and apps smoothly, and Samsung — one of the world’s largest memory chip manufacturers — is warning that higher prices could be on the horizon, not just for smart TVs, but most consumer electronics.

“There’s going to be issues around semiconductor supplies, and it’s going to affect everyone,” said Won-Jin Lee, Samsung’s president and head of global marketing, in an interview with Bloomberg. “Prices are going up even as we speak. Obviously, we don’t want to convey that burden to the consumers, but we’re going to be at a point where we have to actually consider repricing our products.”

Samsung is one of the biggest TV brands in the world, and while it is also one of the biggest memory producers, that doesn’t mean it’s immune to the price hikes most major tech companies are facing.

“As this situation is unprecedented, no company is immune to its impact,” said TM Roh, Samsung’s co-CEO, speaking to Reuters, who also added that the memory chip shortage will not only affect phones, but also tons of electronics, including TVs and home appliances.

How much could the price of smart TVs go up by?

Buying last year’s model could be the best way to avoid price hikes

There isn’t a single definitive number or percentage point for how much smart TV prices could rise, and so far, there haven’t been any major price hikes. That said, the situation could change quickly as memory prices continue to climb.

For context, by the end of December, memory prices had more than doubled compared to their October levels. According to Counterpoint Research, memory prices are expected to rise by 40 to 50 percent in Q1 2026, followed by another 20 percent increase in Q2 2026.

“The rising cost of memory is fundamentally altering the Bill of Materials (BoM) for hardware manufacturers,” Counterpoint Research explained.

If you’re looking to avoid any potential price hikes tied to this RAM crunch, picking up one of last year’s smart TV models now may be worth considering.

Smart TV pricing depends on many factors, not just RAM, with the display being a major cost driver. Still, the skyrocketing price of memory — even though it makes up only a small portion of a TV — could push the cost of new smart TVs higher this year. And with plenty of new models debuting at CES 2026, those higher prices may be felt sooner rather than later, as the TVs announced this week start launching in the spring and pricing is revealed.

If you’re looking to avoid any potential price hikes tied to this RAM crunch, picking up one of last year’s smart TV models now may be worth considering. Many of last year’s best TVs, including the LG C5, Sony BRAVIA 8 II, and Samsung S90F, are still on sale at retailers — even with the holidays behind us. So if you’ve been waiting to upgrade, now might be the time to do it, before manufacturers are forced to raise prices due to the exponential cost of RAM.