Samsung is reportedly preparing to raise DRAM memory prices once again in the third quarter of 2026, as persistent supply shortages across server, mobile and AI-related memory products continue to tighten the global semiconductor market.
According to industry reports, the South Korean tech giant is negotiating with commodity DRAM customers to increase average selling prices by up to 20% compared to the previous quarter. Prices for LPDDR memory, widely used in smartphones, AI servers and other power-efficient devices, could rise by more than 20% due to particularly severe supply constraints.
If implemented, the move would mark Samsung’s third consecutive quarterly DRAM price increase. The company’s average DRAM selling prices surged by more than 90% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the final quarter of 2025, followed by another estimated 50% to 60% increase during the second quarter.
The ongoing shortage extends beyond conventional server DRAM to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and LPDDR chips, driven by booming AI infrastructure and growing demand for AI-enabled consumer devices. Industry data suggests the contract price of a 12GB LPDDR5X module has climbed from around $120 earlier this year to approximately $145.
Higher memory costs are expected to increase production expenses for smartphone, PC and server manufacturers, potentially resulting in higher retail prices, lower memory configurations or delayed product launches.
While Samsung remains more exposed to volatile commodity DRAM pricing, rival SK Hynix relies more heavily on long-term HBM supply agreements, giving it greater pricing stability.
Both Samsung and SK Hynix have announced plans to invest a combined 800 trillion won (around $518 billion) in four new semiconductor plants in South Korea. However, the projects will take years to complete, meaning global memory shortages and elevated DRAM prices are expected to persist in the near term.