Samsung is preparing to phase out LPDDR4 memory, signaling a major shift for device makers that still rely on this long-running low-power RAM standard. Reports out of South Korea indicate the company is winding down LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X production and has already stopped accepting new orders for those modules. The goal is to convert existing manufacturing capacity to LPDDR5 by the end of 2026, allowing Samsung to better serve today’s booming demand for newer low-power memory.
For many manufacturers, this change won’t be optional. Any product line built around LPDDR4 or LPDDR4X—especially cost-focused devices—will need to move to LPDDR5 or find another supplier. This matters because LPDDR4X remains common in lower-tier system-on-chip platforms used across the industry, including chips from major mobile silicon vendors and even some configurations used by Samsung’s own device division. Beyond smartphones and tablets, LPDDR4X is also widely used in single-board computers, Internet of Things hardware, and budget handheld gaming devices where every dollar of component cost counts.
While LPDDR4 has been around for roughly a decade, it has remained in circulation largely because demand stayed high and because it offered a practical balance of performance and cost for mainstream products. That era is now approaching its end. With the next generation LPDDR6 specifications already ratified by JEDEC, the most advanced phones and premium devices are expected to leap forward again, which will likely make LPDDR5 the default memory choice for non-flagship and midrange hardware going forward. In other words, as top-tier products move on, LPDDR5 becomes the new baseline—and LPDDR4 gets squeezed out.
The shift could create short-term headaches for OEMs that planned to keep LPDDR4X designs in production for longer, especially in markets where product lifecycles are longer and redesign budgets are tight. Some companies may attempt to extend the life of LPDDR4-based designs by sourcing memory elsewhere, and alternative suppliers such as SK Hynix and Micron are likely to be considered by manufacturers seeking continuity.
There’s also a potential new player ready to absorb demand that Samsung leaves behind. Chinese memory makers, including CXMT, may step in to serve companies that still need older standards. Separate reporting suggests CXMT has partnered with a fabless firm, GigaDevice, to supply memory products including LPDDR4X, DDR4, and even DDR3—useful for industries and devices that haven’t fully transitioned to newer platforms.
This broader pattern isn’t limited to mobile memory. On the PC side, demand for DDR5 continues to climb, but rising interest in last-generation alternatives shows that the market still values affordable, proven platforms. Some companies have even signaled continued support for DDR4-based ecosystems, underscoring how long older memory standards can persist when price and availability matter.
Still, Samsung’s reported LPDDR4 exit is a clear message: the industry is moving forward, and manufacturers that haven’t started planning the jump to LPDDR5 will need to soon. For consumers, the transition may eventually bring better efficiency and performance in mainstream devices. For OEMs, it means rethinking component sourcing, platform choices, and product roadmaps well before LPDDR4 supplies tighten further.
