Why Smart Board Prices Are Rising: The Impact of the Global Chip Shortage

author: ELON

2025-11-28

'Notice
Dear customer:
Thank you very much for your long-term support and kindness, which has established a good cooperation platform between both parties! Due to the current chip shortage and supply shortage in the entire market, the price of memory modules and solid-state drives has increased significantly, and the market price has completely lost control. The shipping price of future products will be based on the same day's quotation, and it is best for your company to confirm the price before placing an order.
We hope to receive your understanding and support for this price adjustment, and we will continue to fully repay your love and support with high-quality professional services.
This is to inform you!'

In 2025, businesses and educational institutions shopping for smart boards have noticed a clear trend: price tags are on the rise. Behind this shift lies a global chip market transformation driven by AI boom and supply chain adjustments, directly impacting the cost structure of smart board production.

The Chip Shortage: A Perfect Storm of Demand and Supply Shifts

The current chip price surge is no temporary fluctuation—it’s a structural change fueled by two key forces. First, the explosive growth of AI has created an unprecedented demand for high-performance chips, especially High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) that powers advanced computing tasks. HBM’s complex 3D stacking technology consumes three times more wafer capacity than standard DRAM, squeezing production resources for traditional memory chips . Second, major manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix have phased out older DDR4 production to shift to DDR5 and HBM, creating a supply gap for legacy components that many smart boards rely on .

For smart boards, this means higher costs across multiple chip categories. Storage chips—including DRAM and NAND—have seen cumulative price increases exceeding 300% since late 2024, with 16GB DDR4 modules alone surging over 160% in four months . Meanwhile, specialized chips for touch control, image processing, and AI features (such as handwriting recognition) are in short supply, as production capacity is diverted to AI servers and other high-priority sectors .

How Chips Drive Smart Board Costs

Smart boards are more technologically dense than typical consumer electronics, making them highly sensitive to chip price fluctuations. The main control chip, often compared to a "brain," handles touch response, video decoding, and multi-tasking—components like Rockchip’s RK3588, which powers many smart boards, now face higher procurement costs due to tight supply . Storage chips, which enable in-device content saving and smooth software operation, account for a significant portion of hardware expenses, and their price spikes have directly lifted production costs.

Compounding the issue, smart boards also rely on supporting components like inductors and capacitors, whose prices have risen 5-30% due to raw material shortages and AI-driven demand . For manufacturers, these cost increases can’t be fully absorbed—they inevitably translate to higher retail prices for end users.

What This Means for Buyers

The outlook suggests chip prices will remain elevated through 2026, with further increases of up to 50% predicted . For schools and businesses planning purchases, this means:

Budget adjustments are necessary, but investing in quality remains valuable—smart boards with durable hardware and future-proof chip support will maintain usability longer.
Prioritizing compatibility with both current and emerging chip standards can extend a device’s lifespan amid technological transitions.
Partnering with reputable brands that have strategic component supply agreements (like collaborations with display and chip manufacturers) can ensure more stable pricing and delivery .

The Silver Lining: Innovation Amid Cost Pressures

While higher prices present challenges, the chip shortage has accelerated innovation in the smart board industry. Manufacturers are integrating more efficient, AI-optimized chips like Kunpeng and Ascend to enhance performance while managing energy costs . Many are also strengthening software ecosystems—offering cloud collaboration and wireless casting—to deliver greater value that justifies the investment.

For organizations seeking to enhance teaching, meetings, and collaboration, smart boards remain a powerful tool. Understanding the chip-driven price shifts helps frame purchasing decisions as long-term investments in productivity and engagement. As the industry adapts to the new chip landscape, the focus remains on delivering reliable, feature-rich solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern workplaces and classrooms.

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