SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung forecasts 2027 as the worst year for memory shortage, extending until 2030, driven by AI data center demand and HBM requirements.
SK hynix, TetraMem, and USC researchers developed a memristor-based in-memory computing SoC for edge AI. The experimental chip targets energy efficiency but currently offers only 2.54 TOPS, significantly below Copilot+ requirements. This R&D milestone has no immediate impact on current supply or pricing.
SK hynix discussed AI solutions for the elderly at the Chungbuk SR Forum. This initiative targets the aging society. Neutral: No immediate supply chain impact.
Budget smartphone shipments are projected to plummet 22% in 2026 as memory costs surge to 64% of the bill of materials. Manufacturers are diverting wafer starts to high-margin HBM, starving commodity memory supply. This creates a bearish outlook for standard DRAM and NAND flash prices as entry-level demand evaporates.
Lexar is launching new DDR5 memory kits utilizing CXMT chips, achieving speeds up to 7600 MT/s. This follows MSI's demonstration of 8000 MT/s on AMD platforms, indicating significant overclocking headroom for the Chinese manufacturer. The launch validates CXMT's competitiveness against Samsung and SK Hynix, though no pricing or release date has been announced.
Peking University researchers developed the first all-carbon nanotube CFET digital logic circuits, achieving a peak voltage gain of 164. This R&D milestone demonstrates the potential of carbon nanotubes as post-silicon channel materials but has no immediate commercial impact on current supply chains.
Samsung and SK hynix are reducing reliance on Chinese suppliers like Mattson Technology due to U.S. regulatory risks. This shift mirrors TSMC's exclusion of Chinese equipment from 2nm lines. Bullish for global equipment makers like AMAT and ASML.
Lenovo's ThinkBook 14 G9 global models now ship with YMTC 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSDs, marking the first time YMTC NAND has been used outside mainland China. This supply diversification helps ease the global NAND shortage but puts downward pressure on prices.
17 plaintiffs sued Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron for alleged DRAM price-fixing, using HBM allocations as new evidence. The case faces the same legal hurdle that dismissed a previous lawsuit in 2020, as parallel supply cuts are considered lawful under antitrust law. No immediate impact on current trading prices.
SEMI, representing Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron, urged the US government against intervention to avoid worsening the memory shortage. Despite 19% annual capacity growth, demand from AI hyperscalers is expected to outstrip supply until at least 2027.
Kioxia began sample shipments of 1Tb TLC BiCS 10 NAND on July 3, targeting 2027 mass production. The 332-layer technology offers 30% faster speeds and improved efficiency. Watch: New generation launch signals future capacity expansion and competitive pressure.
AMD notified AIB partners of a ~10% price increase for GPU core and GDDR memory bundle kits effective July 2026. This hike is driven by a global GDDR shortage and soaring spot prices that have tripled to $7.5/GB. The move signals a bullish outlook for GDDR pricing as supply constraints tighten.
General Motors and Micron Technology signed a long-term agreement for DRAM and NAND chips, including a $2 billion US fab investment. The deal features advance payments and price floors/ceilings to ensure supply predictability. This capacity expansion and pricing structure implies neutral short-term spot price impact.
AMD will raise GPU kit prices by 10% in July due to GDDR6 memory shortages. AIB partners like Sapphire and ASUS are expected to pass these costs to consumers, though the final retail increase may be lower than 10%.
Samsung and SK hynix's combined 800 trillion KRW capex is driving up demand for EUV and etching equipment, tightening supply and pressuring TSMC and Intel's sub-2nm ramp plans. This supply constraint is bullish for equipment manufacturers.
Samsung and SK Hynix plan to build two memory fabs each in South Korea, investing KRW 800 trillion in a new chip ecosystem. This massive capacity expansion signals potential future oversupply and downward pressure on memory prices.
Kioxia and SK hynix are advancing ADR plans to list on U.S. capital markets. This move aims to strengthen global financing capabilities but does not immediately impact spot supply or pricing.
South Korea's high-purity CO₂ inventory has dropped below one month, with prices up ~20% YTD. Tight supply stems from geopolitical risks and low petrochemical utilization. Bullish: Supply constraints are expected to persist through 2026, pressuring Samsung and SK hynix procurement and potentially raising chip manufacturing costs.
Apple is negotiating with the U.S. government to secure clearance to use DRAM from sanctioned Chinese manufacturer CXMT. This initiative targets the severe global DRAM shortage caused by insufficient capacity ramping from the 'Big Three' (Samsung, SK hynix, Micron). Watch: Approval could diversify supply but faces uncertainty due to CXMT's strong domestic demand.
Apple is lobbying the U.S. government to purchase cheaper memory chips from Chinese manufacturer CXMT to alleviate rising costs, despite CXMT being on the 1260H list. This move challenges the dominance of Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix and could introduce significant pricing pressure in the DRAM market. The trade signal is bearish for Micron and SK Hynix pricing due to potential supply diversification.
Whose chips are really inside the hottest new products? We open them up and show you, one part at a time.
iPhone DuoFirst-pass chip map: 12 modules, 37 checkable identifiers (31 A / 6 B) and 19 public MPNs (16 externally searchable); A20 Pro, C2, N1 and the power/RF chains are located, while the NAND brand stays unconfirmed.All teardowns| Analog | $0.68 | −5.9% |
|---|---|---|
| Connector | $0.75 | +0.2% |
| CPU | $386.74 | −21.3% |
| DDR4 | $88.40 | −0.2% |
| DDR52026-W13 | $14.89 | −11.2% |
| GPU | $478.20 | +8.2% |
| MCU | $0.68 | −61.7%Unusual |
| MLCC | $0.01 | +54.0%Unusual |
| MOSFET | $0.12 | −82.8%Unusual |
| PMIC2026-W13 | $0.44 | −12.5% |
| SSD/HDD | $288.43 | n/a |