Samsung's LPDDR 4X chips get green light for Qualcomm's Snapdragon for automotive use

Samsung's low-power double data rate 4x memory chips were certified to be supplied to Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive platform.

Samsung Electronics’ low-power double data rate (LPDDR) 4X memory chips were certified to be supplied to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon automotive platform. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics’ low-power double data rate (LPDDR) 4X memory chips were certified to be supplied to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon automotive platform, the electronics maker said on Tuesday.

The 32GB LPDDR4X memory chips will be applied to Qualcomm’s premium in-vehicle infotainment and advanced driver-assistance systems.

It marks the first partnership between the Korean electronics maker and the U.S. tech firm in the automotive chip industry.

The LPDDR4X chips meet the AEC-Q100 qualifications for packaged integrated circuits used in cars, including an operating temperature range between minus 40 and 105 degrees Celsius (minus 40 and 221 Fahrenheit).

The next-generation LPDDR5 chips are expected to begin production by the end of this year to be supplied to Qualcomm and other clients, Samsung said. The chips will be able to support the highest speed currently available in the automotive memory market at up to 9.6GB per second, even in environments with extreme temperatures.

Samsung believes it can continue to strengthen its foothold in the growing automotive memory chip market, spurred by the prioritization of autonomous driving and electrification. Samsung’s global market share in the sector is 32 percent in 2023, coming in second only to Micron’s 44 percent, according to global market tracker IHS Markit.

The global automotive memory chips market is expected to grow over 16 percent annually until 2028 to reach $7.36 billion, according to market tracker Omdia.

“With a broad automotive lineup of AEC-Q1001-qualified DRAM and NAND products, Qualcomm Technologies is an ideal partner to work with for long-term customer solutions,” said Cho Hyun-duk, vice president and head of the automotive group at Samsung Electronics’ memory business. “Through Samsung’s leadership in design, manufacturing and packaging for memory solutions, our work with Qualcomm Technologies can help support rapid development cycles while ensuring reliability, verification and exceptional product control, which are essential for the automotive industry.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]