Overview
- Samsung’s mobile chief TM Roh warned management Wednesday, via Korean media reports, that the MX phone business could post a full‑year loss for the first time.
- AI data centers are buying low‑power DRAM (LPDDR5/5X) for servers, which has driven memory prices to nearly double in early 2026 according to Korean reports.
- To feed AI customers, Samsung is winding down LPDDR4/4X and shifting capacity to LPDDR5/5X, tightening supply of cheaper memory that phones have relied on.
- Samsung has started passing on some of the cost, lifting prices by $50 on the Galaxy A37 and A57 and by $80 on higher‑storage Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 models.
- The semiconductor division booked a record Q1 profit, while analysts estimate premium‑phone parts will cost $100–$150 more and project DRAM supply could lag demand by 40% in 2027.