Samsung reportedly to stop taking LPDDR4/4X orders, shift capacity to LPDDR5/5X and LPDDR6

What happened

It has been reported that Samsung will gradually stop producing LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X mobile DRAM and will no longer accept any new orders. South Korean media say the cut-off for new orders began on April 17, and Samsung plans to cease LPDDR4/4X production entirely by the end of 2026, reallocating capacity to LPDDR5/5X and future LPDDR6 lines.

Why now

Reportedly two main forces are driving the move. First, LPDDR4/4X are mature, low-margin products and chipmakers are prioritizing the much more lucrative LPDDR5/5X. Second, Chinese memory vendors have rapidly improved cost competitiveness, pressuring legacy-product margins. ChangXin (长鑫) is singled out in reports as already competitive on LPDDR5/5X, while domestic HBM3 and HBM3E efforts are advancing — narrowing Samsung’s space in key segments.

Market impact and context

The shift comes after an unusual price surge: Samsung LPDDR4X pricing reportedly rose from about $6 per die in March 2025 to $28.5 in January 2026. Faster-than-expected discontinuation of a mainstream part will ripple through smartphone, laptop and automotive supply chains and likely intensify short-term price volatility. This dynamic also sits against a backdrop of export controls and broader technology tensions that have accelerated China’s push to build indigenous memory capabilities.

What to watch

Samsung has reportedly also planned to convert some 2D planar NAND lines to "1c DRAM" production to address capacity bottlenecks. Will this tighten supply further and hasten another round of component repricing? Suppliers, OEMs and regulators will be watching closely as capacity shifts and geopolitical pressures reshape the global memory market.