Overview
- New research from Citrini and Hana projects Nvidia’s Rubin systems will use about 6.041 billion GB of LPDDR in 2027, topping Apple’s 2.966 billion and Samsung’s 2.724 billion combined.
- LPDDR, the low-power DRAM used in smartphones, is moving into data centers, and Nvidia’s Vera CPUs are designed to pair with about 1.5 terabytes of this memory per processor.
- Suppliers are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory and server-grade LPDDR, and KB Securities reports 2026 prices up 194% for DRAM and 244% for NAND as AI operators take roughly 70% of shipments.
- Apple’s bargaining power has weakened as Samsung and SK Hynix sign multi‑year, binding contracts with hyperscalers, and analysts say Apple is now paying above expected prices to secure LPDDR supply.
- Investors have flocked to memory makers like Micron and SanDisk, while supply risks and possible relief include a potential Samsung strike that could trim about 3% of output and a former Samsung leader’s view that Chinese capacity could ease prices in the second half of 2027.