Samsung Sparks Price Shockwave: DDR5 Costs Spike Over 100% as DDR4 Follows Suit

According to reports from Taiwanese media, cited by insider Jukan, Samsung has increased the contract prices of DDR5 by more than 100%. The company has reportedly informed OEM clients about the limited availability of stocks, accelerating the price hikes. However, the price increase isn’t limited to DDR5 modules. Samsung also raised the contract prices for 16GB DDR4, which now costs around $18. This narrows the gap between DDR4 and DDR5, diminishing the role of DDR4 as a cheaper alternative for system and device manufacturers.

Prices of DDR5 have increased during December, while DDR4 prices also show an upward trend. These contract prices primarily affect OEMs buying memory in large volumes, but their impact is likely to reach consumers as well. Laptop manufacturers may respond by raising prices or reducing base memory configurations in 2026 models. Smartphone manufacturers may face similar pressure.

Insider Jukan first released a photo of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 before its release, and also described the features of the Exynos 2400, which were later confirmed in Geekbench software.

Impact on Consumer Electronics

The rising cost of memory modules could lead to notable changes in the consumer electronics market. Manufacturers are likely to adjust their pricing strategies or product specifications. This could mean higher prices for consumers or changes in the standard configurations offered by popular devices.

• Increased production costs may lead to higher retail prices for laptops and smartphones.
• Manufacturers may opt to provide lower baseline memory configurations, affecting overall device performance.
• Potential delays in product launches as companies reassess their supply chain and pricing strategies.

As these price adjustments take hold, consumers might need to anticipate changes in purchasing decisions, potentially having to choose between paying more for devices or accepting lower specifications. Businesses, on the other hand, must navigate these challenges to ensure competitiveness and customer satisfaction.