Kris Carlon / Android AuthorityTL;DR Rising RAM costs are forcing phone makers to make difficult tradeoffs to avoid raising prices. As manufacturers look for savings, buyers may need to dig deeper than the spec sheet to spot hidden compromises. The rising RAM cost crisis isn’t letting up anytime soon, and manufacturers are increasingly being forced to make tradeoffs just to keep phone prices from climbing even higher. With the RAM crisis not letting up anytime soon, manufacturers that aren’t willing to hike prices will have to make compromises somewhere. Buyers don’t typically compare phone speakers when deciding whether to purchase a phone.