20GB is gone! Huawei Mate 90 RS returns to 16GB RAM.

According to multiple bloggers , the Huawei Mate 90 series will no longer offer a 20GB RAM version, and the top-of-the-line Mate 90 RS will come standard with 16GB of RAM . This change means that the 20GB RAM solution, which debuted on the Mate 80 RS, has not been continued in the new flagship.

It is reported that the Mate 80 RS Master, launched last year, was the first Mate flagship to feature 20GB of RAM and offered 512GB and 1TB storage options, making it the Mate flagship with the largest RAM capacity at the time. However, due to the continued rise in RAM costs, the Huawei Mate 90 series ultimately opted for the more mainstream 16GB RAM solution.

Previously, Yu Chengdong, executive director of Huawei, stated that with the sharp rise in memory prices, mobile phones may also need to raise prices on a large scale in the future; otherwise, selling at the original price would risk losses.

Since 2026, the global memory chip market has experienced a rare price surge. In the first quarter of 2026, DRAM contract prices for mobile applications rose by 60% to 70% quarter-on-quarter, while NAND flash memory prices rose by over 70% quarter-on-quarter.

Cost pressures have been fully transmitted to end-users, with memory chips now accounting for over 30% of the phone’s bill of materials (BOM) up from 10-15%. Multiple brands have initiated several rounds of price increases. Counterpoint predicts that the average price of new smartphones in the Chinese market will rise by 15% to 25% compared to the same price range in 2025.

Due to rising memory prices, a price increase for the Huawei Mate 90 series seems inevitable. The current starting price for the Huawei Mate 80 series is 5499 yuan, meaning the Mate 90 series will likely start at at least 5599 yuan.

Furthermore, the Huawei Mate 90 series will also be equipped with the Kirin 9050 Pro, achieving a significant performance leap without relying on advanced manufacturing processes. This phone is expected to be officially released on September 29th and will be the most powerful Mate flagship to date.