Samsung verifies low-power DRAM optimized for AI era

LPDDR5X DRAM. [Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Co.]

Samsung Electronics Co. announced on Tuesday that it has completed the verification of its DRAM that targets the on-device artificial intelligence (AI) market, with mass production scheduled for the second half of this year.

According to the company, it has successfully validated its low-power (LP), double data rate (DDR) 5X DRAM, achieving the industry‘s highest operating speed of 10.7 gigabits per second, in collaboration with Taiwanese fabless company MediaTek Inc.

Samsung completed the validation of a 16-gigabyte package product based on LPDDR5X for MediaTek’s latest flagship mobile application processor (AP), the Dimensity 9400, which is set for release in the second half of this year.

This DRAM is optimized for on-device AI, which functions directly on devices without needing an internet connection. As the on-device AI market grows, the importance of low-power, high-performance LPDDR technology is increasing.

The new LPDDR5X DRAM offers a 25 percent improved operating speed and power consumption compared to previous generations.

Users will benefit from longer battery life on mobile devices and enhanced high-performance on-device AI capabilities without needing server or cloud connections.

Samsung Electronics plans to extend the applications of LPDDR DRAM beyond mobile devices to AI accelerators, servers, high-performance computing (HPC), and automotive electronics.

“We aim to lead the AI smartphone market by providing solutions suitable for the on-device AI era,” said Bae Yong-cheol, Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President responsible for memory product planning.

MediaTek Vice President JC Hsu said “maximized battery performance and more AI functions” will be available with devices equipped with the latest chipsets.

As on-device AI technology rapidly advances beyond cloud-based AI, the demand for low-power, high-performance mobile DRAM is surging.

Market research firm Omdia projects global mobile DRAM revenue will nearly double from $12.3 billion in 2023 to $25.3 billion in 2028.

Samsung Electronics has led the DRAM industry for over a decade, with a 57.9 percent market share in 2023 and 54.8 percent in the first quarter of 2024.