For years, the RAM conversation went like this: 4GB is fine, 6GB is comfortable, 8GB means you were set for a while. Anything beyond that was bragging rights. However, that’s changing quietly. 

Thanks (or not) to a new wave of on-device AI features and Google’s surprisingly aggressive hardware requirements to run them, the number that actually matters in 2026 is 12GB. 

Here’s the full breakdown of what you need, what’s changed, and whether your current phone makes the cut.

What Does RAM Actually Do on a Phone?

RAM, short for Random Access Memory, is your phone’s short-term workspace. It’s where your apps, tabs, and processes live while they’re running. More RAM means more things can stay active at once without your phone having to reload them from scratch. It’s why switching back to a tab you opened 20 minutes ago sometimes feels instant, and sometimes feels like the internet just forgot it existed.

For everyday use, 8GB is still completely fine for most people in 2026. You can run your apps, multitask reasonably well, take good photos, and not feel like your phone is struggling. Google’s minimum RAM requirement to run full Android services is now 6GB, which tells you something about where the industry has settled for the low end.

But “fine for everyday use” and “ready for the next wave of AI features” are two different conversations now.

Why 12GB Is the New Line in the Sand

At Google I/O 2026, the company announced Gemini Intelligence. And no, it’s not the Gemini app you have on your phone.

Gemini Intelligence is a new layer of AI from Google that brings features like Rambler (a voice-to-text tool that cleans up your dictation automatically), Create My Widget (which builds custom home screen widgets from a voice command), and multi-step cross-app automation. And all of this is processed locally on your device rather than sending data to the cloud.

That’s actually a good thing for privacy and speed. But running a capable AI model on-device takes real resources. And for that, Google has quietly unveiled a hardware requirement. 

To run Gemini Intelligence, your phone needs:

• 12GB of RAM or more — that’s 50% higher than Apple Intelligence’s 8GB minimum, and higher than almost every mid-range Android on the market
• A flagship chipset — Snapdragon 8 Elite, Tensor G5, or a comparable 2025–2026 chip
• Gemini Nano v3 — the specific, latest version of Google’s on-device AI model
• Android AICore support — required to store and run the Nano model locally
• A commitment to five or more major Android OS updates from the manufacturer

The 12GB RAM floor is a big deal on its own. But the requirement that’s actually doing the most damage? Gemini Nano v3. That’s the part that’s locking out phones you’d expect to qualify easily.

Your Expensive 2025 Phone Probably Doesn’t Make the Cut

The Pixel 9 Pro has 16GB of RAM. It has a flagship Tensor G4 chip. It cost over $1,000 when it launched last year. And it doesn’t qualify for Gemini Intelligence, because it runs Gemini Nano v2, not v3.

The entire Pixel 9 family is in the same boat. So is the Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7. The OnePlus 13 doesn’t qualify either. Google published these requirements quietly, and it’s not hard to understand why. Telling people their $1,000-plus phone is already on the wrong side of a software requirement is not a great look.

Whether Google pushes Nano v3 to some of these devices via a software update is still an open question. The company hasn’t confirmed either way, and for now, the answer is simple: not yet.

Which Phones Actually Qualify Right Now?

The list of phones confirmed to support Gemini Nano v3 — and therefore eligible for Gemini Intelligence — skews heavily toward 2026 releases. Here’s where things stand:

Currently confirmed:

• Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold (not the Pixel 10a, which ships with 8GB)
• Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 (expected to be the first to publicly debut Gemini Intelligence, in July 2026)
• OnePlus 15 and 15R
• Motorola Signature
• Honor Magic 8 Pro
• iQOO 15
• Realme GT 7T
• OPPO Find X9, Find X9 Pro, Find X8, Find X8 Pro, and several Reno 14 and 15 series models
• Vivo X200 and X300 series
• Xiaomi 14T Pro, Xiaomi 15 series, Xiaomi 15T series, Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Not currently eligible (Nano v2 only):

• Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a
• Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7
• OnePlus 13

What about iPhone?

Apple’s situation is a bit more straightforward and a bit more generous. Apple Intelligence requires 8GB of RAM, which means every iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and everything launched since then qualifies. The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 lines both meet the bar. Apple quietly raised its own floor when it launched its AI suite, but it did so in a way that included a much broader slice of its lineup.

So if you’re comparing the two ecosystems on this specific question, Apple is asking for 8GB, and Google is asking for 12GB. 

So, How Much RAM Do You Actually Need?

6GB is enough to run Android with Google services. Fine for basic use, but increasingly tight as apps get heavier.

8GB is the sweet spot for most people. You won’t feel the pinch in daily use, and both Apple Intelligence and a lot of Android AI features work at this level.

12GB is the new requirement if you want access to Google’s Gemini Intelligence features. If on-device AI is a priority, this is the floor you’re buying to.

16GB and above means future-proofing. Some flagships ship with 16GB now, which gives you headroom for whatever the next round of requirements brings.

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The smartphone industry is at a strange crossroads. On one hand, AI is reshaping what phones are capable of, demanding more memory and faster storage. On the other hand, a global RAM crisis is forcing manufacturers to scale back specs.

In 2026, we might be heading into a world where 24GB and 16GB phones quietly disappear, and 12GB emerges as the new ceiling for most flagship devices.

AI Slowing Its Own Progress

The global RAM shortage is creating a strange situation for smartphones. While artificial intelligence needs more memory to work efficiently, the hardware is heading in the opposite direction. Chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix are shifting focus from smartphone DRAM to more profitable HBM for AI servers. This shift has pushed up DRAM prices by nearly 40%, affecting phone makers directly.

The same AI features that promise to redefine smartphones now demand more local memory than ever. Phones running models like Google’s Gemini Nano or Samsung’s Galaxy AI reserve up to 3-4GB of RAM just for on-device inference. As RAM prices increase, manufacturers may start cutting down memory to control costs. Ironically, the very AI revolution that needs more RAM might suffer from this shortage, AI ends up slowing its own progress.

This is not just a mobile problem. The desktop and laptop markets face the same issue as PC makers struggling with rising component costs.

Flagship Phones

For premium phones, this creates a pricing dilemma. Devices like the Galaxy S Ultra, Pixel Pro series, and ROG, Red Magic gaming phones have built reputations on high-end specs. These devices rely on at least 12GB RAM to handle local AI processing, multitasking, and high-resolution video capture.

Cutting RAM on these models would weaken their value proposition. Manufacturers would be forced to either raise prices or accept a noticeable performance compromise. Neither option works well for brands or consumers. As AI becomes central to smartphone marketing, reducing memory sends the wrong signal. At the same time, pushing retail prices beyond current comfort levels risks alienating mainstream buyers.

There is a middle ground, though. In 2026, many flagship phones may settle for 8GB RAM to keep prices in check, while only top-tier Pro or Ultra variants retain 12GB, down from the 16GB seen previously. Those higher-end models will be positioned for creators, professionals, and gamers who genuinely benefit from the extra memory bandwidth.

Midrange and Budget Phones

The most visible impact of the RAM crisis will show up in midrange and entry-level phones. In 2024 and early 2025, 8GB to 12GB RAM became common in phones under $300, but that momentum may reverse in 2026. Brands trying to keep prices stable are likely to cut back to 6GB or even 4GB RAM on cheaper models.

While 4GB RAM can handle basic tasks like messaging and video calls, it struggles with multitasking or gaming. The realistic standard for most midrange devices in 2026 will likely be 6GB RAM. In lower midrange and budget phones, memory could drop to 4GB, which would be a clear step backward.

It is also worth noting that many manufacturers may stop clearly disclosing the actual physical RAM and its type. Instead, brands are likely to promote inflated RAM figures by combining hardware RAM with so-called virtual RAM. This approach can mask lower physical memory configurations on spec sheets, even though virtual RAM cannot truly replace real RAM in everyday use.

How Much RAM Do You Really Need?

For daily use, the difference between 8GB and 12GB is more about convenience than capability. Most apps are optimized to work within tight memory constraints, especially on iOS, where 8GB still powers AI-driven features like Apple Intelligence. Android, while more RAM-hungry, has matured in memory management, with 8GB now considered the safe minimum for a smooth experience.

If you’re a multitasker, heavy gamer, or rely on AI features like live transcription or photo remastering, 12GB is the sweet spot. It gives enough overhead to keep things running without bottlenecks, even with on-device AI like Google’s Gemini Nano or Samsung’s Galaxy AI reserving a few gigs in the background.

Going above 12GB? That’s mostly for niche users, think professional mobile video editors or esports gamers. For the rest, 16GB won’t feel significantly faster than 12GB.

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Rising memory prices are starting to cause real-world delays, and it’s no longer just smartphone makers and PC builders feeling the impact. The latest fallout has reached the gaming handheld space, with AYN confirming shipment delays for its top-tier Odin 3 Ultra model due to a sharp increase in RAM costs.

AYN said deliveries of the Odin 3 Ultra—configured with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage—have been pushed back to mid-January 2026. The company pointed directly to “skyrocketing” RAM prices and a short-term memory supply crunch as the reason behind the delay.

To ease the situation, AYN is offering affected customers two options. Buyers can either keep their Ultra preorder and wait for the revised shipping timeline, or switch to the slightly toned-down Odin 3 Max, which comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Those choosing the Max will receive a refund for the price difference, as the Max is currently priced at $449, compared to $519 for the Ultra.

Aside from memory and storage, the two models are largely identical. Both are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and feature active cooling, a 6″ 120Hz OLED display, an 8,000mAh battery, expandable storage via microSD, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and external display support. For most users, the downgrade primarily affects multitasking headroom and storage space rather than raw performance.

The situation highlights how broader component pricing trends are beginning to affect even niche hardware categories. If RAM prices remain elevated, companies and consumers may be forced to rethink configurations.

The situation mirrors concerns already brewing in the smartphone market, where rising memory costs could lead to more conservative RAM configurations. This could become an issue for entry-level models running feature-heavy custom UI skins, as well as premium flagships expected to handle increasingly complex AI features on-device. How the industry looks once the dust settles will be worth watching.

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A sophisticated new scam targeting high-end computer hardware has emerged on Amazon, specifically focusing on expensive DDR5 memory kits. According to a report by VideoCardz, fraudsters are deceiving buyers by placing ancient DDR2 modules inside counterfeit packaging designed to look like brand-new, high-performance retail kits.

The issue came to light when a consumer identified as BravoNorris purchased four ADATA XPG Caster DDR5-6000 32GB kits from Amazon Spain. While the exterior packaging arrived in factory-sealed plastic wrap and appeared entirely legitimate, the contents inside the third kit were a different story. Upon opening the box, the buyer discovered old DDR or DDR2 memory sticks that had been glued to metal blocks to mimic the weight of modern modules. These fake units were finished with low-quality counterfeit stickers to further the deception.

This seems to be a classic case of return fraud executed with high precision. In this scenario, a scammer purchases a genuine high-end RAM kit and carefully swaps the expensive DDR5 modules with worthless old hardware and weights. The package is then professionally resealed to look factory-new and returned to Amazon. Because the packaging appears untouched, the automated logistics systems often restock the item as new inventory without a technical inspection of the internal components.

ADATA has responded to the incident by advising customers to buy memory products only from authorized retail partners instead of unknown third-party marketplace sellers. The company also pointed to its online verification portal and said it will step up consumer education around genuine packaging and security features to help curb counterfeit products.

The rise in hardware fraud is closely linked to the current economic climate in the tech industry. As AI-related demand consumes the global supply of DRAM and NAND flash memory, prices for DDR5 and SSDs have climbed significantly. This scarcity has made high-end memory a lucrative target for organized scammers, and the industry is now bracing for ripple effects that could impact the pricing and security of motherboards, GPUs, and upcoming gaming consoles.

To safeguard against these sophisticated scams, it is recommended to record a continuous, uncut video of the unboxing process. This footage serves as essential evidence if a refund dispute arises. Additionally, buyers should physically inspect the module notch, as DDR5 has a specific alignment that differs from older generations, and use manufacturer websites to verify that the serial numbers on the modules match the retail box.

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(Source)

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If you walk into certain computer shops in the US right now, the RAM aisle looks… unfinished. No price cards, no promos — just empty slots where labels should be. Staff are telling customers to ask for the latest pricing because whatever number they printed yesterday probably isn’t accurate anymore.

RAM prices are increasing so fast, some retailers have basically stopped trying to keep up.

The big twist behind all of this is AI. Demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — the kind used in powerful AI servers — has exploded over the past year. Manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix earn far more from those chips than from regular DDR5 modules, so factories have shifted their attention. That leaves everyday PC memory in shorter supply… and suddenly much more expensive.

You can see the spike clearly in recent pricing data. Idealo’s tracking shows a popular Crucial Pro DDR5-6400 CL40 64GB kit has almost doubled in price since early October. And the swings aren’t happening gradually — some wholesalers were even adjusting rates several times per day. Retailers buying last-minute stock to avoid empty shelves are getting burned when prices rise again before they can even mark the items.

The whole situation has started to feel less like hardware shopping and more like a crypto chart. On Reddit, frustrated builders are sharing screenshots of RAM that jumped by $20, then $50, then nearly double within just a few days. Upgrades that used to be an easy “grab the 32GB kit and go” are now something people are putting off entirely.

Because of that, many stores are ditching printed tags and replacing them with small notes telling shoppers to check with staff. If you want RAM, you get quoted whatever the price happens to be at that moment — almost like asking for the day’s rate on gold.

No one seems to have a clear answer on when things will settle down. As long as HBM is the money-maker fueling the AI boom, regular consumer memory is likely going to remain pricey and unpredictable. So for PC builders trying to stretch a budget, the old strategy of “wait a few weeks and the price will drop” just doesn’t apply anymore — at least not right now.

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If you were thinking about upgrading your gaming PC with a chunky 64GB of DDR5 RAM, you might want to sit down first. Memory prices have shot up so fast in the past couple of months that a top-tier RAM kit can now cost more than a brand-new PlayStation 5. It’s gotten bad enough that Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is publicly sounding the alarm, calling the trend “a real problem for high-end gaming in the coming years.”

Just look at the numbers. Back in mid-October, a 64GB Crucial Pro DDR5-6000 kit could be picked up for around $260. By Black Friday? About $498. No special sale, no limited stock — that’s just the new price. G.Skill’s popular Trident Z5 Neo RGB 64GB DDR5-6000 kit has seen an even wilder swing: it hit a low of $220 on September 20, and now Newegg lists it for $599, and that’s after a $40 discount.

What’s driving this? It’s mostly the fault of the booming AI industry. Memory suppliers like Samsung and SK hynix have shifted their most advanced manufacturing capacity toward lucrative AI data-center orders — customers who will happily pay much more than gamers ever would. That leaves consumers fighting over whatever capacity is left, pushing prices higher week after week.

And it’s not only RAM feeling the squeeze. Storage is next in line. High-capacity SSDs, HDDs, and even microSD cards are seeing higher price floors and fewer deals, as the same chip fabs try to keep up with datacenter demand.

Some analysts like to suggest an AI bubble could eventually pop and correct things. Sweeney doesn’t sound like he’s counting on that anytime soon. His warning focuses on the next few years — a long stretch where high-end PC gaming might get significantly more expensive simply because memory chip production is shifting away from consumer hardware and toward HBM, which powers AI training and inference.

So if you were planning to grab a big RAM kit to future-proof your rig, the unfortunate reality right now is this: you’re paying PS5 money for a pair of sticks.

Preview	Product
	Crucial 64GB Kit (2x32GB) DDR5 6400 CSODIMM Laptop Memory (CT2K32G64C52CS5)	Check Price on Amazon
	Micron Crucial 4GB Single DDR3L 1600 MT/s (PC3L-12800) Unbuffered UDIMM Memory CT51264BD160B	Check Price on Amazon
	Crucial 64GB Kit (2x32GB) DDR5-5600 SODIMM CL46 (16Gbit)	Check Price on Amazon

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As the daily demands of the regular user grow every day, laptops are required to run increasingly more intense software. One of the key elements that maintain smooth performance is RAM (Random Access Memory). While we still find plenty of notebooks with 8GB of RAM or even less, 16GB is becoming more of a standard today. So here’s why 16GB RAM should be the bare minimum in most modern day laptops.

The Growing Need for More RAM

RAM is basically the workspace of your laptop, where all active processes, programs, and tasks reside temporarily. Keeping this in mind, the more RAM you have, the more tasks or processes your laptop can handle without slowing down. 8GB of RAM is still enough to run a laptop, but software and web applications are becoming more resource intensive. 8GB was once a standard, but it no longer feels sufficient.

A great example of this is browsers like Google Chrome. At times, each individual tab can take up hundreds of MBs worth of RAM with my personal experience sometimes reaching as high as 1GB as well. At the same time, the macOS or Windows operating systems also require more RAM for regular functioning. So less than 16GB can sometimes be felt even in day-to-day use.

Improved Multitasking and Productivity

Since we’ve established that more RAM helps your laptop run more tasks, you can already tell how it might come in handy in various situations. Whether you’re a student who needs multiple apps for basic web browsing or playing music or whether you’re into content creation that involves hefty apps, 16GB of RAM can help run multiple tasks without a hitch.

The higher RAM capacity helps creative professionals to run design software, such as Adobe Photoshop, and others. Meanwhile, regular users can open more tabs in a browser, have more apps open, and just have a smoother experience overall.

Better for Gamers and Content Creators

Gaming and content creators are two audiences that particularly require higher RAM. Games are becoming increasingly complex, with rich graphics and larger world maps which require more memory. With 16GB RAM, laptops can manage these demands, leading to smoother gameplay and less frame-dropping.

Once again, content creators need more than 8GB of RAM. High resolution video editing and graphic design work are also demanding, with lower memory potentially causing freezing or crashes. Extra memory ensures space for the program to run seamlessly in the background, while the creator performs other tasks.

Conclusion

It is worth noting that 8GB isn’t entirely outdated. For users that run basic tasks such as browsing, document editing, or streaming, 8GB can still offer decent performance. This is especially true for budget-friendly laptops priced around $300 or lesser. These affordable models make sense for casual users or students who don’t require heavy multitasking or advanced software.

However, if you’re looking to maximize productivity, play games, or work with creative applications, opting for 16GB will provide a smoother and more reliable experience. More memory also ensures future proofing and enhanced longevity of your laptop. This means that it can keep up with modern demands and not become outdated with newer software.

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Colorful has unveiled its new iGame “Jiachen Zhilong” DDR5 RAM, designed to complement its previously launched Dragon Year limited edition motherboards. This high-performance memory caters to PC builders seeking both aesthetics and performance.

The RAM kit is currently available on JD.com for 1,399 Yuan

The inaugural release features a 48GB (2x 24GB) DDR5-6800 (CL34) memory kit. The highlight lies in its striking “dragon scale” heat spreader with “Dragon” RGB lighting effects, creating a visually captivating addition to your PC. This kit is currently available on JD.com for 1,399 yuan.

The “Jiachen Zhilong” series draws inspiration from traditional Chinese colors, incorporating “Zheng Li” red and “Jin Xiang” gold. The design boasts “Xiang Yun” auspicious cloud patterns and “Yu Feng” flying phoenix motifs on the front, alongside the prominent “Jiachen Zhilong” (Auspicious Dragon Year) emblem on the back. The overall look is further accentuated by gold edging and layered light guides that symbolize “rising step by step”.

This memory series utilizes top-tier SK Hynix memory particles, delivering clock speeds of up to 6800MT/s. It also supports XMP 3.0 for effortless one-click overclocking, PMIC intelligent temperature control for optimal thermal management, and ON-Die ECC for automatic error correction, ensuring data integrity and stability.

VWhile JD.com currently only offers the 48GB version, the product page hints at the future availability of a 32GB variant. This lower-capacity option is expected to maintain the CL34 timings but might feature a slightly higher operating voltage of 1.4V.

Colorful’s “Jiachen Zhilong” DDR5 memory series caters to users seeking a unique blend of aesthetics and performance, perfectly complementing the company’s Dragon Year limited edition motherboards. With its combination of striking design, premium materials, and robust performance capabilities, this memory series is a compelling choice for enthusiasts building high-end PCs.

(Via)

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G.SKILL has officially launched its flagship DDR5 memory series, the Trident Z5 Royal, boasting a unique combination of aesthetics and high-performance. The Trident Z5 Royal merges the sleek lines of the Trident Z5 series with the “Royal Diamond” light guide strip design. This combination is available in both gold and silver color options, allowing users to personalize their builds with a touch of elegance.

The heat sink on the RAM has undergone an electroplating process which gives it a unique look

G.SKILL has equipped the Trident Z5 Royal memory with a robust aluminum alloy heat sink. This heat sink undergoes an electroplating process to enhance not only its functionality but also its visual appeal, resulting in a memory module that is both effective and aesthetically pleasing.

The Trident Z5 Royal memory boasts strong performance capabilities thanks to its support for Intel’s XMP 3.0 memory overclocking technology. By utilizing a motherboard and CPU certified on the QVL (Qualified Vendor List), users can effortlessly enable XMP in the BIOS to unlock the memory’s rated overclocking speed, pushing performance boundaries.

At the time of writing, G.SKILL has only launched a single memory kit on JD.com. This kit features 64GB capacity (2 x 32GB modules) and boasts a starting specification of 6400MT/s with 32-39-39-102 timings. The introductory price for this kit is 2149 yuan.

(Via)

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Micron is taking a leap forward in data center memory solutions, becoming the first manufacturer to deliver high-end DDR5 RDIMM memory specifically designed for AI applications. This cutting-edge memory boasts impressive operating speeds of up to 8000 MT/s.

Micron claims that the new DDR5 memory brings a 28% improvement in AI training

Micron’s press release highlights their achievement: verifying and delivering high-capacity 128GB DDR5 RDIMM memory built with single-chip 32GB DRAM chips and reaching speeds of 5600 MT/s. This marks an industry-leading position for Micron.

The secret behind this innovation lies in Micron’s 1β (1-beta) technology, which equips the 128GB DDR5 RDIMM memory with significant advantages. Compared to traditional 3DS through-silicon via (TSV) products, Micron’s solution offers a remarkable increase in bit density (over 45%), improved energy efficiency (by 22%), and reduced latency (by 16%).

Micron emphasizes the performance benefits of their high-capacity DDR5 memory in AI training, claiming up to a 28% improvement. This enhanced memory is ideal for tackling memory-intensive workloads in AI generation, in-memory databases, and real-time data analysis. Additionally, the swift response times accelerate AI inference capabilities.

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(VIA)

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A recent report that claims the upcoming iPhone 15 series will receive a RAM upgrade across the board. This report from TrendForce via MacRumors suggests that Apple is planning to increase the capacity and specifications of DRAM, which could potentially boost performance for Apple’s next flagship.

While the report does not provide many details, it leads us to believe that the Pro models could be upgraded to 8GB of RAM, a modest boost from the current 6GB. This could lead to more efficient performance for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra, as some rumors suggest). It’s also speculated that the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models may not see an increase in capacity.

In addition to capacity upgrades, the report suggests that Apple may also be considering a specification change for non-Pro models by introducing LPDDR5 RAM, a faster spec than the iPhone 14’s LPDDR4X. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max currently use LPDDR5, so this change could bring the performance of the non-Pro models closer to that of the Pro models.

The combination of increased RAM and the upcoming A17 Bionic chipset could solidify Apple’s lead in the compute performance department. This would mark the first RAM upgrade since the introduction of the 6GB capacity in the iPhone 12 Pro.

Exclusive renders of the device have surfaced, giving us a glimpse into what we can expect from Apple’s upcoming flagship phone. The phone’s edges have been reimagined to create a more seamless transition to the frame, promising a more comfortable grip and reducing the likelihood of accidental touches.

But that’s not all – Apple is also saying goodbye to its proprietary connector, the Lightning port, in favor of the widely used USB-C. This change is in response to the European Union’s push for a common charging standard for all smartphones and devices. With the new USB-C port, the iPhone 15 Pro will be even more versatile and compatible with a wider range of accessories.

Overall, the iPhone 15 Pro promises to be a game-changing device, offering both design and functionality upgrades that are sure to impress Apple enthusiasts worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting tech development!

RELATED:

• Reports Suggest iPhone 15 will Use USB-C, but Compatibility with Android Remains Unclear
• Leaked Image Shows iPhone 15 Pro With a USB-C Port
• iPhone 15 Lineup Will Likely Sport Slimmer Bezels
• TSMC’s Largest Customer, Apple, Reduces Chip Orders Significantly

(Source, Via)

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Micron, a leading supplier of memory and storage solutions, recently introduced new DDR5 memory modules in 24GB and 48GB capacities. The modules are compatible with AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 profiles, making them easy to set up and use with desktop PCs running the AMD Ryzen 7000 series And Intel 12th and 13th Gen Core processors.

Micron’s new DDR5 memory modules feature 5200 MT/s and 5600 MT/s data transfer rates and CL46 latency at 1.1V. DDR5-5600 DIMMs come in traditional 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions, but the new 24GB and 48GB models stand out because they’re based on 24Gb memory chips, while traditional Dimensions may use 16Gb DRAM ICs. Meanwhile, DDR5-5200 modules are only available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB sizes.

The 24GB and 48GB capacities are ideal for next-generation server platforms because they allow systems to balance memory capacity and core count, reducing cost. Additionally, AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 profiles, designed primarily for enthusiasts, are supported, suggesting that these Modules are for the desktop.

Using a few 24GB or two 48GB modules instead of a pair of 32GB and 64GB DIMMs allows you to build a PC with 48GB or 96GB of dual-channel memory, which is less expensive than a machine with 64GB or 128GB of RAM. Meanwhile, capacities like 48GB and 96GB are more suitable for modern CPUs with 16 or 24 cores – For example, if you’re doing a virtual machine, you might get 2GB or 3GB per core.

Micron has not revealed suggested prices for its DDR5-5200 and DDR5-5600 modules. However, given the expected low PC demand in Q1 and the expected 18-23% drop in DDR5 SDRAM prices in Q1 2023, new memory modules are expected to be relatively cheap, although Their high capacity and higher performance.

RELATED:

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• OnePlus 8 Pro may be priced less than $1000, Features SD865, LPDDR5 and UFS…
• Samsung Develops Industry’s First 12nm-Class DDR5 DRAM

(via)

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Samsung Electronics has developed an industry-first 12nm-class DDR5 dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in collaboration with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). This new DRAM is set to begin mass production in 2023 and is expected to advance the capabilities of next-generation computing, data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications with its exceptional performance and greater power efficiency.

Samsung’s 12nm DDR5 DRAM to advance data centers and AI applications

The 16GB DDR5 DRAM was made possible through the use of innovative technology, including a new high-κ material that increases cell capacitance and proprietary design technology that improves critical circuit characteristics. This, combined with advanced multi-layer extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, has resulted in the industry’s highest die density, enabling a 20% gain in wafer productivity.

Leveraging the latest DDR5 standard, Samsung’s 12nm-class DRAM will offer speeds of up to 7.2 gigabits per second (Gbps), allowing it to process two 30 gigabyte (GB) ultra-high definition (UHD) movies in just one second. In addition to its impressive speed, the new DRAM is also notable for its power efficiency. It consumes up to 23% less power than previous DRAMs, making it an ideal solution for global IT companies seeking more environmentally friendly operations.

“Our 12nm-range DRAM will be a key enabler in driving market-wide adoption of DDR5 DRAM,” said Jooyoung Lee, Executive Vice President of DRAM Product & Technology at Samsung Electronics. “With exceptional performance and power efficiency, we expect our new DRAM to serve as the foundation for more sustainable operations in areas such as next-generation computing, data centers, and AI-driven systems.”

The development of the 12nm-class DDR5 DRAM was made possible through close collaboration with industry partner AMD. “We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Samsung, particularly on introducing DDR5 memory products that are optimized and validated on ‘Zen’ platforms,” said Joe Macri, Senior VP, Corporate Fellow, and Client, Compute and Graphics CTO at AMD.

With mass production set to begin in 2023, Samsung plans to broaden its DRAM lineup built on this cutting-edge 12nm-class process technology into a wide range of market segments. The company will continue to work with industry partners to support the rapid expansion of next-generation computing.

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(source)

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Google Chrome is a widely popular web browser due to its fast speed and user-friendly interface. However, it is also known for being a resource-intensive browser that can consume a significant amount of battery and system memory. This can be particularly frustrating for users with low-power devices or those who multitask while browsing the web. Luckily, this problem will solve with the new features.

New Google Chrome features to save battery and make browsing smoother

Google has announced that it will be optimizing its Chrome web browser for battery and system memory. The company will be rolling out new performance settings that will reduce Chrome’s memory usage by up to 40% to improve the stability of open tabs. The new modes, called Memory Saver and Energy Saver, will be available globally for Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS in the coming weeks.

Memory Saver mode is designed to help users who have many tabs open at the same time. It will reduce the memory usage of each tab, allowing users to keep more tabs open without causing their device to slow down. Memory Saver mode frees up memory from tabs you aren’t currently using so the active websites you’re browsing have the smoothest possible experience. This is especially useful if you’re running other intensive applications, like editing family videos or playing games. Any inactive tabs will be reloaded when you need them.

Energy Saver mode is designed to help users extend their device’s battery life while using Chrome. It will automatically activate when a user’s device battery level drops to 20%, and it will reduce energy consumption by limiting background activity and visual effects for websites with animations and videos. This can be particularly useful for users who rely on their devices for long periods of time without access to a power source.

These new modes are part of Google’s ongoing efforts to improve the performance and efficiency of Chrome. The company has also recently introduced other features, such as tab grouping and tab search, to help users manage their open tabs more efficiently. With the addition of Memory Saver and Energy Saver modes, Chrome users will have even more control over how the browser uses their device’s resources. You can find these controls under the three-dot menu in Chrome.

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(via)

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Micron Technology is a US-based multinational semiconductor company that has operations in Japan and Taiwan for its chipmaking business. And as both Nikkei Asia and ITHome report, the tech giant will start mass-producing advanced DRAM memory chips at its Japanese Hiroshima plant in Q4 this year.

ITHome reports that on a press media visit to Micron’s A3 chip manufacturing factory, Micron‘s Taiwanese division director, Lu Donghui announced that the A3 factory will be introducing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment in the second half of the year, to prepare early for the mass production of 1-gamma DRAM that is due to launch in 2024.

And as for 1-Beta DRAM Mass Production, it is reported that 1-Beta DRAM will be initially manufactured in Japan, and then the production will switch over to the Taiwanese plant later. For context, the current 1-Alpha DRAM is manufactured in the Taiwanese plant.

And the report by ITHome seems to be valid, as another news outlet, Nikkei Asia has reached out to Chief Business Officer at Micron, Sumit Sadana, regarding the news of 1-Beta DRAM production.

Nikkei Asia quotes Sadana that the company will start mass-producing advanced DRAM memory chips at its Hiroshima plant by the end of the year, which falls in Q4 2022. 

The company is coordinating with the Japanese government and business partners, such as equipment makers, to start producing them in Japan as well, Sadana said in an interview. He did not reveal the size of the investment in the Hiroshima plant but said manufacturing such chips generally requires new equipment and clean rooms.

Micron is expected to determine the scale of its investment based on government subsidies and other factors.

DRAM is used for temporary data storage in a wide variety of electronics, including smartphones and servers. And for Micron’s naming scheme, the company had already mass-produced its 1X, 1Y, 1Z and 1-alpha DRAM. The 1Xnm process is equivalent to 16-19nm, 1Ynm is equivalent to 14-16nm, and the 1Znm process is equivalent to 12-14nm. According to industry sources, the latest 1-alpha, 1-beta and 1-gamma may be equivalent to 14-12nm, 12-10nm and 10nm respectively

Micron has announced in 2021 plans to invest $150 billion in memory manufacturing and research and development worldwide over the next decade. With the company laying out plans for 1-beta production, industry watchers are looking to see where it will manufacture the next-generation 1-gamma DRAM, which is targeted for mass production in 2024.

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(Via 1, Via 2)

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Have you ever encountered a situation where your personal desktop or laptop did not have enough RAM to run a task? Or was your RAM not sufficient enough to prevent the programme from stuttering? And was that task keeping 15 tabs open on Google Chrome? 

If you answered yes to any of the 3 questions above, then Samsung might have the solution for you. Introducing Samsung’s latest DDR5 RAM solution, where technology now enables a user to possess 512GB of DDR5 memory on a single RAM stick.

As one of the current industry-leading suppliers of DDR4 memory, Samsung is planning to take the lead in the development of DDR5 RAM. Recently Samsung posted a video on its YouTube channel, highlighting the latest features of Samsung DDR5-7200 module technology.

Samsung‘s new 512GB DDR5 RAM modules refine the firm’s layer stacking memory packing tech, as used in its latest DDR4 memory modules. In the diagram below, you can compare the difference between Samsung’s 4-layer DDR4 memory chips, with the 8-layer DDR5 chips, both connected using Samsung’s Through Silicon Via technology. 

Through grinding of the silicon layers Samsung has been able to make the constituent dies 40 per cent thinner, and similarly reduced layer spacing – thus these much denser DDR5 integrated chipsets are actually thinner, at 1.0mm vs 1.2mm. In turn, Samsung will be able to manufacture a single 512GB RAM stick with 8 stacked DRAMs connected together.

Last but not least, Samsung claims its DDR5 technology is twice as fast as the previous generation, claiming speeds of up to more than 6400Mbps.

However, the increase in performance does not affect power efficiency because Samsung’s DDR5 technology is actually 30% more power-efficient than its previous generation thanks to the lower required voltages to run the DDR5 RAM.

Samsung has mentioned that it will be supplying DDR5 RAM to data centres, smartphone manufacturers and laptop manufacturers alike. And whether 512GB DDR5 RAM sticks will reach the hands of consumers, is a question reserved to be answered in the 2020s.

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(Source, Via)

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As the electronic devices of today keep getting more technologically advanced year by year, as consumers, we demand more memory and faster speeds for smoother operations across a wide variety of applications. DRAM memory has become an essential electronic component in keeping our devices running smoothly and fast, and there are a lot of RAM options in the market from the latest DDR5 memory to the cheapest DDR3 memory.

However, DDR3 seems to be showing its age in the market, as the technology initially launched in 2007 turns 15 years old today in 2022. With that context in mind, several of the world’s largest DRAM suppliers such as Samsung and SK Hynix have come out to announce that the industry is looking to discontinue the production of DDR3 due to dwindling market demands, and higher demands for its DDR4 and DDR5 options instead.

According to Digitimes, Samsung has already notified its customers that the company will keep taking orders on DDR3 RAM until the end of 2022 and fulfil these orders by the end of 2023. Popular 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB DDR3 memory options are expected to have production ceased by the end of 2022. 

SK Hynix is also reportedly looking forward to phasing out DDR3 SDRAM production, though it is unclear when the company will cease to supply them. The report from Digitimes, also notes that citing industry sources, DRAM maker Micron, on the other hand, has no plans to cease production of DDR3 RAM at the time of publishing. 

Although most electronic devices of today have already transitioned over DDR4 or DDR5 memory for DRAM, there is still a relatively large quantity of inexpensive devices like routers that still use DDR3 memory. In addition, older 2nd hand or refurbished early 2010s laptops that are still in circulation in the market still need DDR3 memory for repairs and replacements.

The discontinuation of production could spell a price hike for the inexpensive electronic devices, as manufacturers will now be using the more expensive DDR4 option instead, and that cost of production in the end would be given back to the consumer. On the bright side, technology is finally saying goodbye to the slower DDR3 memory, and providing a faster user experience for all by transitioning to DDR4 and DDR5 in the future.

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(Via)

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Earlier this week, Apple unveiled a few new devices at a launch event, including the third-generation iPhone SE. The smartphone comes in improved specifications and features compared to its predecessor.

Among the enhancements for the smartphone, Apple has also increased the memory of the device, which the company has not yet advertised.

The new Apple iPhone SE now comes packed with 4GB RAM, which is more than 3GB RAM that the company offers in the second-generation model. This was confirmed by MacRumors with information sourced from strings within the Xcode 13.3 Release Candidate that Apple released following the launch event.

With the increased memory on the device, there should a noticeable performance improvement. More applications, as well as webpages in Safari, can now remain active in the background. Also, some tasks like photo and video editing can also benefit from this.

The Apple iPhone SE 3 features the same 4.7-inch display and keeps the home button with Touch ID, similar to its predecessor. However, it now packs an A15 Bionic processor which also supports 5G connectivity. In the camera department, the smartphone features a 12-megapixel camera sensor with a few new features.

The smartphone will be available for pre-order from 11th March in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, and more than 30 other countries and regions. The sale of the device will begin from 18th March.

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The Redmi K40 Gaming Edition launched as Redmi’s first gaming smartphone. The Dimensity 1200-powered phone is still exclusive to China but is expected to make its way to other markets as the POCO F3 GT next month. Today, Lu Weibing, the head of Redmi, revealed an interesting fact about the phone.

The Xiaomi executive disclosed on Weibo that more than 70% of Redmi K40 Gaming Edition owners have the 12GB RAM version of the phone. That is a significant percentage considering the phone is also available in 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM variants. In the same post, he asked readers if they consider RAM or storage when choosing a phone.

When it comes to mobile phones, having sufficient RAM is key for a smooth experience as it means you can have more active apps running without your phone slowing down or the apps having to relaunch when you switch between them. And if you are a gamer, you wouldn’t want to have your game getting closed just because you had to quickly make a call. Thus it makes sense as to why the variant with the highest amount of RAM is the best seller.

The Redmi K40 Gaming Edition comes in four configurations – 6+128GB, 8+128GB, 8+256GB, and 12+128GB. There is no storage expansion, so whatever storage it comes with is what you are stuck with.

The phone also has a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a centered punch hole. There is a 64MP main camera on the back and it is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide angle camera and a 2MP macro camera while a 16MP camera is in front.

Redmi has also added stereo speakers tuned by JBL, mechanical gaming triggers, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, NFC, and a 5065mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging.

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Earlier this week, Ni Fei, President of Nubia, shared a new post on his official Weibo account, a Chinese microblogging website, where it showcased its upcoming Red Magic 6 gaming smartphone’s RAM boost technology support.

According to the senior official of the Chinese smartphone maker, the Red Magic 6 will arrive with Magic Write 2.0. This is the company’s fast storage read and write technology and is a part of the Red Magic Arc Reactor performance engine. It combines the Tencent Solar Core game engine along with intelligent scheduling of CPU, GPU, and memory. In simpler terms, the smart optimization of the device’s hardware enables shorted cold starts of mobile games, slashed load times in game, and faster in game click response.

Furthermore, the President of Nubia also added that the RAM boost technology allows the Red Magic 6’s 12GB of RAM to be used “just like 18GB of memory.” In other words, it supports rapid virtual expansion technology that enables the software memory boost. This would further boost the device’s gaming capabilities to offer smoother gameplay experience, faster response time and more. Unfortunately, we are not exactly sure how the company achieves this, but it is likely that it boosting the RAM’s speed to offer higher performance or using its boost engine to perform processes equivalent to a 18GB RAM module.

Talking about the specs of the device, the Red Magic 6 may launch in two versions, Red Magic 6, Red Magic 6 Pro. The devices are expected to arrive with an OLED display with a refresh rate up to 165Hz and a touch sampling rate up to 480MHz. The company is already teasing shoulder touch buttons for gaming. Additionally, it will also sport a Snapdragon 888 chipset with a battery capacity of 4,500mAh and a 120W fast charging under the hood.

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The upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro 8, which has already surfaced in numerous reports, is expected to launch sometime early next year. While it is known that it’ll physically look similar to the Surface Pro 7, the company might be bumping the specs of its base model.

We have already heard reports of the Surface Pro 8 featuring 11th Gen Intel Core processors with Iris Xe graphics or even with the AMD Renoir platform. Although, the upgrade that Microsoft is finally addressing with the upcoming notebook is the issue of the base model arriving with a Core i3 processor and only 4GB of RAM, which is less than what most smartphones arrive with. But as per a new WindowsLatest (via MSPowerUser) report, the company will be offering the Surface Pro 8 with at least 8GB of RAM.

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At the moment, the Surface Pro 7 only arrived with just 4GB of RAM in the base model and the 8GB RAM variant only arrived with Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Although, the report also suggests that the 4GB model might still be available. In other words, the 8GB variant for the Core i3 might just be a paid upgrade on the lowe variant. This would mean that the Surface Pro 8 could arrive in:

• Core i3, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD / Core i3, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD.
• Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD or 256GB SSD.
• Core i7, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD, 512 GB SSD or 1TB SSD storage.

Unfortunately, this is still an unconfirmed report, so take this news with a pinch of salt for now. Currently, it is also unknown if Surface Laptop 4 and Surface Pro 8 are expected to launch in January 2021. So we might find out more details soon. Stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates when additional information is available.

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Nowadays, the RAM capacity in smartphones is increasing, and having a device with 8GB RAM is quite common. If you are into gaming, then the companies are launching gaming smartphones with up to 16GB RAM.

Xiaomi has now introduced RAMDISK technology for smartphones. In the most basic sense, the technology uses RAM as disk storage, which in turn boosts the performance of the particular app or game.

Although the technology exists for computers, this is probably the first time we are hearing about this technology on a smartphone. With this newly introduced RAMDISK Trial Mode, users of Mi 10 Ultra can make use of 16GB LPDDR5 RAM.

RAMDISK technology is used to set aside a portion of RAM to be used as virtual storage. The advantage of using this is that the speed of RAM is significantly faster than the storage technology used in smartphones.

For instance, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra smartphone uses LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 for internal storage. The speed of RAM on the device is 44GB/s while the read and write speed of UFS 3.1 is rated at 1700+MB/s and 750+MB/s respectively.

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To use the RAMDISK Trial Mode on your Mi 10 Ultra smartphone, you will have to go to the “Speed Installation” section in the Game Center and enter the Game Trial mode to install it. As per the company, the installation of the Peace Elite game in this mode takes about 10 seconds, which is about 100 percent faster than the normal installation mode.

Currently, more than 10 popular games are supported, including QQ Speed, Glory of the King, and Peace Elite. If no longer needed, you can easily delete the game from your device and it will be deleted without leaving fragmented files or slowing down the phone.

However, do note that when the phone’s battery is exhausted or the device is restarted, the game installed through this RAMDISK mode will disappear since it is stored in the RAM. But, Xiaomi is also offering an option to transfer the game installed on RAM to the flash memory on the smartphone.

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Samsung Electronics is one of the largest known brands for consumer-grade products. However, most are unaware of the South Korean tech giant’s actual size and scale of operations which also includes chip manufacturing processes for other smartphone OEMs. Now, the company is expected to further invest an extra $8 billion in its chipmaking factory in Xi’an, China.

According to a new report, Samsung will increase the investment in the Chinese chip factory to boost the production of NAND flash memory chips. It is speculated that the large investment follows after the company predicts a surge in demand for memory to rebound next year due to limited supplies alongside rising demands for fifth-generation networks and devices.

Currently, Samsung is the world’s largest producer of NAND flash memory chips which are capable of holding data indefinitely and are found in smartphones, USB pen drives, and various types of memory cards. Back in 2017, the company was to invest $7 billion over the course of three years in its Xi’an plant that produces such NAND flash memory chips. This investment followed a $10.8 billion which Samsung had already invested earlier for a testing and packaging plant in Xi’an.

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Samsung’s dominance in the NAND flash memory market is evident with many competitors still seeking to rival the South Korean giant. However, none have been as successful in the overseas market as Samsung has. Known competitors include South Korea’s SK Hynix, US-based Micron Technology Inc, and Toshiba Corp group.

The new investment raise from Samsung indicates of the ever-growing smartphone industry. Furthermore, new generation devices with faster memory and processing are expected to make a breakthrough in the market in the near future as well. Thus, Samsung has already started preparing with a large extra investment. Notably, examples of other areas that are expected to be hit with high demand in 2020 include the camera lens module of smartphones.

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(Via)

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Changxin Memory Technologies, previously known as Innotron Memory, and previously to that known as either Hefei Chang Xin or Heifei Rui-li IC Manufacturing, is said to be targeting 10k wpm DRAM production by the end of the year. Changxin will compete against chips giants Micron Technology and Samsung Electronics in a $1 billion per year market.

The Chinese company is taking steps to minimize its use of US technology thereby propels them to redesign its dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. The company is taking measures to avoid infringing patents and potentially falling victim to the U.S. pressures on China’s rising tech industry.

While Changxin is determined in reducing their reliance on US technology, much of its production still reply on U.S. equipment and tool suppliers. By redesign its DRAM chips, the company is hoping that they will be safe against potential U.S. allegations of intellectual property theft.

While the output will still be small compared with the 1.3 million DRAM wafers a month currently produced globally, the start of production would still mark a major breakthrough for China as the country currently has no homemade DRAM chips, said Sean Yang, an analyst at market research company CINNO.

However, much like the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, Changxin still needs to use U.S. equipment from companies like Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA-Tencor, materials from Dow Chemical and electronic design automation tool providers from Cadence and Synopsys. For more news, stay around on Gizmochina.com.

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(Source)

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Back in 2015 when Apple released the iPhone 6s with 2GB of RAM, there were already Android phones with double that RAM. The ASUS Zenfone 2 and OnePlus 2 are best examples. The iPhone 7 Plus released last year is the only 3GB RAM iPhone and there are tens of Android phones with double that already.

There are speculations that one of the iPhones released this year will have 4GB of RAM but analysts at TrendForce think otherwise. They believe the increase in prices of LPDDR4 RAM is affecting the growth in smartphone RAM this year.

They say if Apple plans to maintain its annual shipment target of about 200 million,then 3GB of RAM should suffice for the 5.8-inch iPhone with an AMOLED display and the 5.5-inch version with an LCD display. The 4.7-inch LCD version will also make do with 2GB RAM.

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It appears the guys at TrendForce knows something we don’t since they are mentioning that we are still getting three iPhones (only one with OLED) instead of the Foxconn source that says there will be only two iPhones (iPhone 8 an iPhone 8 Plus) with both sporting OLED displays. The source says Foxconn has received orders for two iPhones only.

TrendForcce also says that next year will see Apple launch an iPhone with 4GB of RAM. 2015’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the only iOS device that ships with 4GB of RAM at the moment.

(Source)

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Last year, Vivo released the Xplay 5 Elite as the first 6GB RAM smartphone in the world. Just before the year ran out, we saw other manufacturers including Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, and Xiaomi release their own smartphones with 6GB RAM. Now the race is on for 8GB RAM smartphones. The big question is do we really need such a large RAM on our smartphones? A Huawei executive doesn’t think we do.

The Huawei executive took to his Weibo page (@HW  Lao Shi) to express his opinion on phones with large RAMs. According to him, 4GB of RAM is enough for a phone to run smoothly. He says tests have shown that Huawei phones with 4GB of RAM (paired with the Kirin 960) perform better over time compared to the competition with 6GB of RAM. The key, is actually in the optimization of the operating system and he cites an example with how iOS doesn’t need a large RAM to run smoothly.

He goes on to say that the competition between manufacturers to release phones with the largest RAM can be likened to the nuclear arms race between USA and USSR during the Cold War.

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Adding that extra 2GB or 4GB of RAM drives up the cost of the phone, and the cost is borne by the users who pay for such phones. Lao Shi isn’t saying 6GB RAM phones are bad, Huawei itself has a couple of 6GB RAM phones but he just doesn’t believe it is necessary.

(Source)

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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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