# AI Data Centers Will Consume 70% of All Memory Chips in 2026. Here Are the Only 2 Stocks That Matter.

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-26 10:17 UTC · Category: Business · Sources: 6 · Current Velocity: 3.67

## Executive Summary
AI data centers are projected to consume 70% of all memory chips in 2026, triggering widespread price hikes across consumer electronics.

## Intelligence Brief
A severe memory chip shortage is driving costs upward, affecting everything from modern smartphones to 2003-era DDR2 memory. The Motley Fool reports that AI data centers will utilize 70% of all memory chips in 2026, while Tom's Hardware notes that DDR2 prices have jumped up to 60%.


Coverage from the WSJ, CNBC, and Engadget emphasizes the systemic nature of the crunch. Lenovo claims that price hikes will become a new norm, putting pressure on retailers of laptops and smartphones and increasing the cost of devices such as MacBooks, iPads, and Xboxes.


Future developments center on whether the memory crunch can be resolved, a prospect the WSJ describes as almost impossible, and the subsequent impact on retail pricing for consumer hardware.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### How much of the memory chip supply will AI data centers use in 2026?
According to The Motley Fool, they will consume 70% of all memory chips.

### Which specific older memory standards are affected?
Tom's Hardware reports that 2003-era DDR2 memory prices have increased by up to 60%.

### Which consumer products are seeing price increases?
Engadget and CNBC report price hikes for Xboxes, MacBooks, iPads, laptops, and smartphones.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
AI Data Centers Will Consume, All Memory Chips, Here Are the Only, Stocks That Matter, Morning After Prices Rocket Up On Xboxes MacBooks, DDR2, AI-driven DRAM, Why the Memory Crunch Is Almost Impossible

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engadget | The Morning After: Prices Rocket Up On Xboxes, MacBooks, iPads And More | 2026-06-25 19:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQODhnTU9TSUZvaG14Z1ZJWjJvM0xZNjByazBIa1VKbm40WjgzZTlSVFRnRkg4U0l6bmVrV2tDdFdmMXIyME93U2pxd3psYjZZMTdqZ3QyV1lkN2VpNmtScG40MW56ejEycmgzcXNQeWRhLXhVYUpLc0F6amhhZk9OTW03Zjh5NkQxTU03Mg?oc=5) |
| Tom's Hardware | 2003-era DDR2 memory prices jump up to 60% — AI-driven DRAM shortage reaches the oldest standard still in production | 2026-06-25 19:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxQdXVSclRQQlJCd21hSE5aMWkyYWJZQzU3UjEyMjByeTB0SHI4Mld2MjJzTndpNjhTVjNaRUVfRThXZExBSkI5SnZ0dW5iMERGWVFtQVZ5bm5BQUtoN0FCTlZoMHk2REFYZ1lBd09yWkZVU0pkVVNyVWVUZlBEVU9aYXZOVmhKX2s3OWk2YXFLSTlCQQ?oc=5) |
| WSJ | Why the Memory Crunch Is Almost Impossible to Solve | 2026-06-25 19:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxQWThQeV94MTMydkN2ZWpNMzhRUGRwTjFWS2h6ejZxcFNyVHk0QmVlUmg1eDRlNF9XMnNFUjdSZ2xTTUhqUVEwcmVScTlpcnV5NEc3XzVjb3EwS25SRENRa3NXMGp1Wk5sWnFmTDgyXzJEVnh2WGtIOUJ5UmFSQVVKMUJIbEY3bDBQTjh5T2VB?oc=5) |
| TechPowerUp | Memory Price Hikes Will Become a New Norm, Claims Lenovo | 2026-06-25 19:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxOSGRMS1E5dTdKQXY2em1QdlJTZldHV1NRM3dXSUp3V3N0VVBHamt5UDFJeDNBR25YbmpYZ0JHeDZnUlNQRmI0RVMwLU52eXZicHZHTFNpVHBIenlxR2FxUm5yR0FoT3ZDVmtCV2h3ZVFNQk1NLWZkWTdtR012b1g2LVNRNmpHNllVRjZaMjZMbXZHZVBX0gGaAUFVX3lxTE1RWEo5YmZEQ01UQnFncmpYMlpNZG53VUJaeVdKUWVTUnpFN2NnVk5qT2xYZnR2V0QxSG9RYjVsYW8yU0s2czdnSHR2Y3ZBRTB0b29uOTRxY3g2bzRQWHg0YURJU1hwYlhLd3Q5bVpmTXdEcy1sRWsxVk9wN0x6Nm5paW5tZlNrZVpTUnhHaHZSZ1QzblF2dm0tN2c?oc=5) |
| CNBC | Rise in memory chip costs puts pressure on retailers of laptops and smartphones | 2026-06-25 19:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxQa2d6bGtzQWpsRnc4VTdvcURwTEpHamVfYkhQRjhnd2pFb2FMR0VSSW9Wbm5EaGU3YmxPMVNTZl9ZTFZnajZNUm51cDNjVE13US12RG1tSWVtazludkM3bE9tSWRRZE5vY1F6SGt5QjNIREhEVWMwb1RKdlkxbE1aelRiOHprZDZ4UjJ2SE4xQWR1QdIBlwFBVV95cUxOTmZ2ZE1fLUdYLWttTWhlRUlrZkktN2NvVGVCSmZFaVRUUURyUjVESjUycm5KVloyRGVNdkNKM1h4VGRIb1hHcGVGWFRsdHJhbk1MQWlOZTNFNmtoZXJNSy1TVjctOXgyRElNa0VZWVJWSWRUUGgwOEo5cWY2RmZXUDR5aDVTMjctYWx1RS1XUUpxTWVqd2xn?oc=5) |
| The Motley Fool | AI Data Centers Will Consume 70% of All Memory Chips in 2026. Here Are the Only 2 Stocks That Matter. | 2026-06-25 19:50 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOMWJLUFBnVUluemh0ckJWMkFwN2NZNXdhZTljZXllX3NySHZObHRCQ0E0ZWlJdUthazFOVkV0QkMwSkV1cURyWkNldGczWUtmZkhFLVJDZThrZUlwYkZ4dHpoeWZOVnhqemdrRFlmZ1ZqaWRoREJzam1Hc001SFlCZlJaVDNwQXoyVEh0ZHUzNVB1bDJoeExjXw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-06-26/ai-data-centers-will-consume-70-of-all-memory-chips-in-2026-here-are-the-only-2*
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