Samsung reportedly cuts Galaxy A output 20% on memory costs

Samsung's cheaper phones are the latest casualty of the memory squeeze. According to Korean outlet ETNews, as reported by 9to5Google, Samsung is cutting production of its Galaxy A smartphones by about 20% and shifting those resources to its flagships.

What the report says

• Component orders for the fourth quarter are about 20% below the production plan Samsung set at the start of the year.
• On an annual basis, that works out to roughly 10 million fewer phones.
• Samsung reportedly plans to cut Galaxy A output by more than 10% again next year.
• For mid-range models, the inflated cost of memory and chipsets now makes up around half of the total production cost.

Samsung has not confirmed the figures. Treat them as a well-sourced report rather than an official plan.

Our take

This is a big deal precisely because the Galaxy A series is not a side project. Entry-level and mid-range A models are usually Samsung's best-selling phones; 9to5Google notes the Galaxy S26 series only broke that pattern this year. When a company squeezes the volume line to protect margins on pricier phones, budget buyers end up with fewer models, thinner discounts or quietly reduced specs.

It also fits a pattern. Memory prices are rising across the industry, from phones to consoles: one insider even claims PS6 memory and storage costs now top $680 per console. For phone shoppers, the practical advice hasn't changed. Don't overpay for RAM you won't use (see our guide to how much RAM you need), and if a current mid-ranger meets your needs at a good price, waiting for next year's model may not save you money.

If you'd rather step up, the Galaxy S26 FE is the closest thing Samsung has to a flagship at a mid-range price, and the kind of phone this strategy is meant to push.