DDR5 memory prices have been climbing steadily, pushing many PC builders to look back at DDR4 as a more affordable option. That shift hasn’t gone unnoticed. Samsung is now expected to continue producing DDR4 into 2026, even after previously signaling plans to wind it down.

The decision appears to be driven by sustained demand, particularly from enterprise customers. According to industry reports, Samsung has signed a non-cancellable, non-returnable (NCNR) supply agreement with a large client. The deal locks in fixed pricing and volumes, mainly for server and data-center use, including systems built for AI workloads.

That structure offers Samsung protection against price swings, but it also means consumer markets are unlikely to see a sudden influx of cheap DDR4. Production will continue, but much of the output is effectively spoken for.

SK Hynix is said to be taking a similar approach. While it has not fully exited DDR4 manufacturing, there are no signs of a major ramp-up. As a result, supply constraints could linger across both DDR4 and DDR5, keeping prices higher than many buyers would like.

There is, however, a silver lining for some PC users. Intel’s 12th-, 13th-, and 14th-generation processors still support DDR4 on compatible motherboards, extending the life of older platforms. Board makers are responding to that demand.

Not everyone expects prices to keep rising indefinitely. On the Hardware Unboxed Podcast, Sapphire PR manager Edward Crisler suggested memory pricing could stabilize within the next six months. He also pointed out that gamers have historically adapted well during periods of hardware shortages.

For now, DDR4’s extended production offers a stopgap rather than a solution. With enterprise customers taking priority, meaningful relief for consumers may still be some way off.

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Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, the three leading memory chip makers in the world, are reportedly pushing for the popularization of DDR5 memory to help boost the semiconductor market. Industry experts are hopeful that increasing the output and promotion of DDR5 memory will stimulate replacement demand, curbing the downward trend of the semiconductor market.

DDR5 DRAM Performs Twice as Better as DDR4 DRAM

DDR5 DRAM is the latest memory specification introduced by JEDEC, boasting a performance double that of its predecessor, DDR4 DRAM. However, DDR4 DRAM currently dominates the memory market, and experts believe that promoting DDR5 memory is necessary to stimulate demand for newer specifications.

According to market research company OMDIA, DDR5 DRAM is set to take over the memory market by 2024, surpassing DDR4 DRAM. The company predicts that DDR5 DRAM will account for 12% of the DRAM market in 2023, up from just 3% in 2022, and is expected to grow to 27% by 2024, while DDR4 DRAM is expected to fall to 23%.

The popularization of DDR5 memory could have significant implications for the semiconductor market. The semiconductor market has been hit hard by a global shortage of chips, which has impacted various industries, including automobiles, smartphones, and gaming consoles. The promotion of DDR5 memory could help boost the market, as more consumers replace their devices with newer, DDR5-equipped models.

DDR5 memory offers several advantages over its predecessor, DDR4 memory. DDR5 memory has double the data rate, higher memory density, and lower power consumption. These improvements make DDR5 memory ideal for high-performance applications such as gaming, artificial intelligence, and data centers.

The popularization of DDR5 memory is a significant development for the semiconductor market. China saw a 17 percent decline in semiconductor output in 2023 so far. It is expected to help stimulate replacement demand and boost the market, particularly as more consumers upgrade to DDR5-equipped devices. With its higher performance and energy efficiency, DDR5 memory is poised to take over the memory market in the coming years, surpassing DDR4 memory in terms of popularity and usage.

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Looking at most of the phones released this year, we can confidently say 3GB RAM phones are the new 2GB RAM devices. We can also say 4GB RAM phones are the new 3GB RAM phones.

If you are out for a new phone, you sure can get one with 3GB of RAM for a little over $100 like the Vernee Thor, and if you want something from a brand with a bigger name and a different chip, the ASUS Pegasus/X550 sells for less than $120 and comes with a Snapdragon 615 processor. Android manufacturers are not the only ones who have caught the RAM bug, seeing as Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus has 3GB of RAM.

This year we have also seen phones launch with 6GB RAM like the OnePlus 3 and heard lots of rumours of phones sporting 8GB of RAM. While the latter hasn’t seen the light of day, we are sure it will start to appear next year.

Larger RAMs if well optimised is a good thing but it has led to an increase in price of this important part of a phone. DDR3 and DDR4 RAMs have now hit the $2 mark in the last quarter and it is expected to continue rising.

Last month, 4GB DDR4 RAM sold for an average price of $2.17 which is an 18.6% increase. 4GB DDR3 sold for an average price of $2.08, an increase of 22.4%.

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The increase in price is attributed to an increase in demand from Chinese manufacturers with supply not meeting up. DRAM production companies like Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have also cut production which will further affect supply.

Analysts say the increase will continue into the fourth quarter and will be at least 15% higher than that of Q3.

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