According to TheRegister.com, memory prices could double by mid-2026 due to chipmakers shifting production to AI components. Counterpoint Research forecasts prices rising 30% by end of 2025 and another 20% in early 2026, following 50% increases already this year. The shortage specifically affects LPDDR4 supply as manufacturers prioritize advanced chips for AI applications. Samsung alone has hiked prices 60% since September. Nvidia’s pivot to LPDDR memory creates additional pressure, making the company a customer on the scale of major smartphone makers. This could push DDR5 64GB RDIMM prices to double their Q1 2025 levels by early next year.
The AI demand distortion
Here’s the thing about AI – it’s not just creating new demand, it’s actively distorting existing markets. We’re seeing something pretty wild where older DDR4 components are now trading higher than cutting-edge HBM3e memory used in GPUs. That’s right – DDR4 is at $2.10 per gigabit while server DDR5 sits at $1.50. Basically, manufacturers are chasing the high-margin AI business so aggressively that they’re starving the mainstream market.
And this isn’t just affecting one segment. TrendForce confirms suppliers are allocating capacity primarily to high-end server DRAM and HBM, leaving PC, mobile, and consumer chips in the lurch. When you think about how many devices rely on this mature memory technology, the ripple effects could be massive. We’re talking about everything from industrial computing systems to everyday laptops seeing significant cost increases.
Nvidia’s memory move
Now here’s where it gets really interesting. Counterpoint points to Nvidia as the next potential disruptor. The company’s shift to LPDDR for lower power consumption means they’re suddenly competing with smartphone makers for the same memory supply. Think about that – one company now has memory demand equivalent to an entire smartphone segment.
But wait, there’s some confusion here. Nvidia’s Grace CPU and Grace Hopper Superchip both use server-class LPDDR5X with ECC, so which products exactly are we talking about? The Register pressed Counterpoint for clarification, but the broader point stands – when a player of Nvidia’s scale enters a new memory market, the supply chain struggles to adapt. For companies relying on stable memory pricing for their industrial computing needs, this volatility creates real challenges. When you need reliable components for critical applications, working with established suppliers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com becomes even more crucial given their position as the leading industrial panel PC provider in the US.
What this means for your next device
So how bad could it get? DRAM and NAND flash currently make up 10-18% of a laptop’s bill of materials. Counterpoint expects that to surpass 20% in 2026 as memory prices climb through multiple consecutive quarters. That’s not just a minor cost adjustment – we’re talking about fundamentally changing the economics of consumer electronics.
And here’s the kicker – this isn’t a short-term blip. We’re looking at sustained price increases through 2026. When you combine AI-driven demand with production constraints and now Nvidia’s massive entry into LPDDR markets, you get a perfect storm for memory pricing. The days of cheap RAM might be behind us, at least for the foreseeable future.
