Don’t buy a budget Android phone in 2026 — 4 reasons to get an old flagship instead

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

As a result of what is now known as RAMageddon and the resulting chip shortage caused by chip makers and RAM manufacturers selling all their processing power to AI companies, we’re seeing significant price increases in the smartphone world.

New flagship models launch at higher prices and with less RAM than the previous generation, while current smartphones are seeing their prices rise. The Galaxy A-Series and the Pixel 10a price hikes are just a few examples, as phones have seen their prices go up or their specs slashed (effectively the same thing) in recent weeks in response to market demand.