From Startup Fortune · · 1m 20s
Samsung Memory Chief: RAM Shortage Peaks 2028
Samsung's memory chief warns RAM shortage won't peak until 2028, driving laptop and phone prices higher.
In brief
Samsung's memory chief warns RAM shortage won't peak until 2028, driving laptop and phone prices higher. Samsung's memory chief says global DRAM shortage will last through 2028, causing laptop and phone prices to rise significantly. Originally reported by Startup Fortune.
Samsung Memory Chief Warning
Samsung memory sales chief Jaejune Kim says global DRAM and HBM shortage will deepen through 2027 and stay tight into 2028.
“We believe it will be unlikely to see any significant increase in incremental supply through 2028”
DRAM Prices Surge 420%
DRAM contract prices have climbed roughly 420% so far this year, according to industry pricing trackers cited by TrendForce.
Laptop Memory Costs Rise
A 32GB DDR5 kit that cost about $100 in June 2025 was selling for $300 to $500 by March 2026.
AI Demand Drives Shortage
Every gigabyte of high-bandwidth memory for AI accelerators doesn't go into PCs or phones, causing the shortage.
Samsung Locks Memory Supply
Samsung signed long-term supply agreements with top five data-center buyers, committing 60% to 70% of capacity to hyperscale customers.
Price Floors Protect Profits
LTAs include price floors that cap quarterly price cuts at 5%, with no ceiling on how high prices can go.
Samsung Profit Surges
Samsung's Q3 2026 operating profit surged 783% year over year, driven by memory shortages.
The short version
Samsung's memory chief says global DRAM shortage will last through 2028, causing laptop and phone prices to rise significantly.
