What the Global AI Memory Squeeze Means for Smart Home Cameras and Doorbells

Hook: Your next smart camera could be limited before you even open the box

If you’re shopping for a smart camera or doorbell in 2026, the most important component you rarely see on the spec sheet is under intense global demand: memory. A continuing memory shortage driven by the AI boom is changing what manufacturers can ship, and that affects night-vision AI, local person and package detection, higher-resolution continuous recording, and even price. This article explains the real effects on smart home cameras and doorbells—and gives clear, actionable buying strategies: buy now, wait, or prioritize firmware-updatable hardware.

Why memory supply matters to smart home cameras in 2026

Memory isn’t just a technicality. Two types of memory influence camera performance and features:

• DRAM (volatile memory): used by the SoC (system-on-chip) to run video encoders, motion analysis, and AI models locally. More DRAM enables larger, more accurate AI models to run at the edge and supports multi-stream high-resolution encoding.
• NAND flash / eMMC / onboard storage (non-volatile): used for firmware, local clip storage and buffering before cloud upload. Higher capacity and faster NAND reduce dropped frames and allow longer local retention without a subscription.

Since late 2025, several industry reports have highlighted major memory demand growth from datacenter and generative AI deployments. That demand squeezes supply for consumer DRAM and high-density NAND, and that ripple is now hitting smart consumer electronics—including cameras and doorbells.

Quick evidence: what changed in late 2025 – early 2026

• Large cloud and AI providers reallocated high-performance DRAM and high-density NAND to GPU and inference server production, tightening availability for consumer device makers.
• Manufacturers responded by prioritizing supply for flagship phone and GPU customers—consumer IoT lines saw constrained shipments or changes to BOM (bill of materials).
• Some smart camera vendors delayed higher-res 4K product launches or shipped models with reduced local storage and lighter on-device AI models.

"The expansion of generative artificial intelligence is exerting pressure beyond data centers and cloud providers," reported PYMNTS in January 2026—an early signal this was moving downstream into consumer devices.

How the memory squeeze changes camera features you care about

Expect tradeoffs. When memory is scarce or expensive, companies make three basic choices that affect buyers:

1. Shrink or simplify local AI—smaller models or fewer detection classes (e.g., person-only detection instead of package, pet, vehicle).
2. Lower onboard storage—smaller eMMC or flash volumes, shorter local clip retention and less buffer for pre-event recording.
3. Reduce video resolution or multi-streaming—limit 4K to a single stream, drop continuous 4K recording, or throttle streams when AI runs.

Feature-level impacts you’ll notice

• Local AI accuracy: Expect more false positives or reduced class detection when models are trimmed to fit limited DRAM.
• Latency and reliability: Cameras with insufficient DRAM may offload detection to cloud more often, increasing latency and dependency on subscription services.
• Storage retention: Lower onboard NAND means shorter local clip history unless you rely on the cloud or add external storage (microSD, NVR, NAS).
• 4K and multi-camera homes: Continuous 4K recording across multiple cameras becomes less feasible on constrained hardware—expect manufacturers to reserve high-resolution capability for premium SKUs.

Three buyer strategies: buy now, wait, or prioritize firmware-updatable devices

Which path is right depends on your priorities: immediate security, maximizing features, or future-proofing. Below are clear decision criteria and examples to help you choose.

1) Buy now—when you need coverage today

Choose this if you have a current security need (move-in, renovation, short-term rental, or immediate theft risk).

• Get models with the largest available local storage (microSD + option for external NVR/NAS). A 64–256 GB microSD slot is ideal for buffer and short-term local retention.
• Prefer devices that allow external storage (RTSP/ONVIF support so you can hook them to a NAS/NVR later).
• Look for hardware that advertises local person-detection and a proven track record for firmware updates over the air (OTA).

Buying now also allows you to take advantage of current deals—vendors will discount previous-gen units if new flagship models are delayed by memory constraints.

2) Wait—when you can trade now for better long-term value

If your setup is non-urgent and you want future-ready AI and higher-resolution recording, waiting may pay off.

• Memory production is planned to ramp through late 2026 as manufacturers expand fab lines and allocate capacity back to consumer channels.
• Vendors who had to ship trimmed hardware may reintroduce full-featured SKUs once DRAM/NAND supply normalizes—expect true 4K + advanced local AI to be available mid-to-late 2026.
• Prices may stabilize or drop for premium models as supply catches up.

Waiting is the smartest move if you don’t need immediate coverage and you prioritize local AI (privacy + reliability) and multi-camera 4K setups.

3) Prioritize firmware-updatable devices—best for future-proofing

This is the most broadly recommended approach if you want resilience against supply-driven feature changes.

• Vendors can optimize or reduce model memory footprints through firmware. A camera that gets frequent OTA updates can gain better efficiency or new features even if shipped with reduced memory.
• Firmware-updatable devices can also receive optimized encoders and storage management, squeezing more usable life out of limited NAND.
• Devices with open APIs, RTSP/ONVIF, and local export features allow you to add external compute or storage later (e.g., home hub with a more capable CPU/DRAM can run improved models).

Choose models from vendors with strong update histories and transparent change logs. That matters more in 2026 than raw megapixel counts.

How to evaluate camera specs with the memory squeeze in mind

Manufacturers may advertise AI, 4K and extended storage—but those claims depend on memory. Use this checklist while comparing models:

• DRAM: Check the stated RAM on the technical sheet. More DRAM enables local inferencing. If RAM isn't listed, ask the seller or look for teardowns and community reviews.
• Onboard flash: Look for the size of eMMC/flash and whether firmware/OS consumes a lot of it. A 16–32 GB system partition leaves less for clips.
• Expandable storage: MicroSD up to 512 GB or external storage via USB/ONVIF/NAS is a major plus.
• Codec and bitrates: H.265/AV1 support lowers storage needs. AV1 adoption accelerated across 2025–2026; cameras that support AV1 will store more video for less space.
• Local AI feature list: Does the camera run person, package, vehicle, pet detection locally? Are there known limits on simultaneous detections or multi-camera edge processing?
• Firmware policy: How often does the vendor push updates? Are release notes public?
• Interoperability: ONVIF, RTSP and local API access let you move off-device processing to hubs with larger memory.

Storage math you can use when planning

Estimate how much storage you need depending on resolution and recording type. These are conservative practical estimates for 2026 settings.

• 1080p H.264 at 2 Mbps ≈ 0.9 GB per camera per hour.
• 2K H.264 at 4 Mbps ≈ 1.8 GB per camera per hour.
• 4K H.265 at 8–12 Mbps ≈ 3.6–5.4 GB per camera per hour. AV1 can cut those numbers by ~20–40% depending on hardware support.

Example: three 4K cameras recording 24/7 at 8 Mbps (H.265) need ≈ 3 cameras × 3.6 GB/hr × 24 hrs × 7 days ≈ 1,814 GB ≈ 1.8 TB per week. If vendor NAND is limited, local retention will be compressed or trimmed.

Workarounds and smart setups to mitigate memory limitation

If you already own cameras or want to buy now but avoid the worst limitations, these practical approaches help.

• Use external NVR/NAS: Offload retention to a local NAS or lightweight NVR. This reduces reliance on device NAND and gives you more fine-grained retention policies.
• Hybrid recording: Configure event-only local recording and continuous lower-resolution streams. Keep high-res clips for events only.
• Local hub for AI: If you have a home hub with extra DRAM (like a mini-PC or dedicated appliance), use cameras that can stream raw or low-latency video to that hub for local processing.
• Edge stacking: Use a ring of devices—one powerful hub plus cheap camera endpoints—when memory is constrained on the camera itself.
• Regular exports: Schedule automatic clip export to your NAS or cloud storage to prevent onboard NAND from filling up.

Privacy and subscription trade-offs in a memory-constrained market

Memory weakness often leads vendors to lean on cloud processing, which raises privacy and subscription costs. Consider these trade-offs:

• Cloud AI: Accurate but requires upload bandwidth, increases recurring costs, and stores sensitive footage on third-party servers.
• Local AI with small models: Better privacy, lower latency but may have reduced detection capabilities unless you provide more DRAM or a local hub.
• Subscription model: Vendors may push higher-tier subscriptions to unlock advanced cloud AI if local memory is inadequate.

Actionable privacy tip: if privacy is a top priority, select devices that explicitly advertise on-device inference and local storage encryption, and avoid models that force cloud-only processing for core detection features.

Practical buying checklist (printable)

1. Determine urgency: immediate coverage? Choose higher local storage and RTSP/ONVIF support.
2. List must-have AI features: person, package, vehicle, pet—prioritize local inference for these.
3. Check RAM and NAND specs; push vendor support if not listed.
4. Prefer AV1 or H.265 support to save storage.
5. Confirm firmware update policy and open APIs/RTSP/ONVIF support.
6. Plan your storage: microSD + NAS/NVR + cloud backup policy that fits your retention needs and budget.

Case study: a three-camera home and the memory squeeze

Homeowner scenario (real-world style): Sarah has three cameras covering entry, driveway and backyard. She wants 24/7 2K recording plus reliable local person/vehicle detection. Under ideal supply, she’d buy three cameras with 2 GB RAM and 128 GB onboard flash each. Under the memory squeeze, vendors ship the same models with 512 MB RAM and 32 GB flash—insufficient for her needs.

Her options:

• Buy now with cameras that have microSD + RTSP, plug them into a NAS for continuous recording, and accept trimmed local AI (cheaper, immediate protection).
• Wait 3–6 months for rebalanced supply and buy premium models with full local AI and larger onboard storage.
• Buy a hub-first solution: a modest camera now and a dedicated local hub later to run stronger AI models when they become available.

Final recommendations for 2026

• If you need security now: Buy cameras with expandable storage and RTSP/ONVIF support. Avoid vendor-lock to cloud-only features for core detection.
• If you want best AI and 4K: Wait until supply normalizes later in 2026—look for models with >1 GB DRAM and >64 GB flash, native AV1/H.265 support, and robust OTA update records.
• To future-proof any purchase: Prioritize firmware-updatable hardware, open standards (RTSP/ONVIF), local encryption, and vendor transparency about RAM/flash and update cadence.

What to watch in late 2026 and beyond

Memory supply should improve as manufacturers expand capacity, but the trend toward more powerful edge AI will persist. Expect the following:

• Greater adoption of efficient codecs (AV1, successor codecs) in consumer cameras to cut storage needs.
• Modular edge architectures—dedicated home hubs doing heavy inference for multiple thin-edge cameras.
• More transparent SKU differentiation: companies will explicitly offer "local-AI optimized" and "cloud-first" SKUs with clear memory specs.

Actionable next steps

Here’s a quick plan you can follow today:

1. Make a list: number of cameras, desired resolution, and retention period.
2. Run the storage math above and decide if onboard NAND suffices or if you’ll rely on NAS/NVR.
3. Shortlist devices that show RAM and NAND specs or have community teardowns confirming them.
4. Pick firmware-updatable, RTSP/ONVIF-capable options—even if slightly older gen—if long-term control matters.
5. Sign up for vendor deal alerts and our price-comparison guide (affiliate links) to catch re-stocked premium SKUs or discount bundles when memory supply eases.

Closing: the long view

The 2026 memory squeeze is a market-level disruption that forces tradeoffs between immediate protection and premium features. The good news: smart choices—favoring expandable storage, firmware-updatability, and open standards—let you get covered today without sacrificing long-term upgrade paths. Vendors are already adapting: expect clearer specs and modular solutions as the year progresses. Stay pragmatic, protect your privacy, and plan storage like an engineer—not a shopper.

Call to action: Want help picking the right camera for your home and budget? Check our updated buying guide and price comparison (affiliate links included) to match models to your urgency, storage plan and privacy needs. Sign up for alerts so you’ll know when best-in-class, memory-rich models return to stock.

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