Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Memory Supply Stalled: Low 1nm LPDDR Yield Poses Obstacle

Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Memory Supply Stalled: Low 1nm LPDDR Yield Poses ObstacleOn September 4th, IT House reported based on information from ZDNETKorea, that Samsung Electronics' MX division expressed concerns over the delay in receiving 1nm LPDDR memory samples for the upcoming Galaxy S25 series smartphones from its DS division. Samsung Electronics commenced mass production of 16Gb DDR5 memory using its 1nm process in May 2023, followed by the release of 32Gb DDR5 in September

Samsung Galaxy S25 Series Memory Supply Stalled: Low 1nm LPDDR Yield Poses Obstacle

On September 4th, IT House reported based on information from ZDNETKorea, that Samsung Electronics' MX division expressed concerns over the delay in receiving 1nm LPDDR memory samples for the upcoming Galaxy S25 series smartphones from its DS division. Samsung Electronics commenced mass production of 16Gb DDR5 memory using its 1nm process in May 2023, followed by the release of 32Gb DDR5 in September. They have been aggressively pushing forward with the development of 1nm LPDDR mobile memory products. However, as early as June 11th, ZDNETKorea reported that the yield rate of Samsung Electronics' 1nm DRAM memory products was less than 50%.

The report highlighted that Samsung Electronics' DS division initially planned to supply MX with a certain number of 12Gb and 16Gb capacity 1nm LPDDR memory samples by August to facilitate the development of the Galaxy S25 series. However, the DS division failed to meet this deadline, hindering the Galaxy S25 series' memory supply plan. Sources revealed that the yield rate of Samsung's 1nm LPDDR fell short of expectations, impacting internal supply schedules. Consequently, the MX division raised objections and is currently reevaluating its DRAM supply plan for the Galaxy S25 series.

According to the general principles of the DRAM industry, a minimum yield rate of 80% is required to achieve stable and economically viable large-scale production and supply. Currently, Samsung's 1nm LPDDR is facing supply shortages even within the company, indicating a yield rate significantly below the 80% target. This undoubtedly poses a significant challenge for Samsung Electronics, potentially affecting the launch timeline of the Galaxy S25 series and potentially impacting its competitiveness.

Samsung Electronics, as a leading global memory chip manufacturer, has always garnered significant attention for its memory products. 1nm LPDDR, as the next generation of mobile memory technology, is expected to deliver substantial performance and energy efficiency improvements, making it crucial for Samsung's future development. This supply delay exposes the challenges Samsung faces in achieving a high yield rate with its 1nm process, casting a shadow over its future prospects.

To overcome this challenge, Samsung Electronics needs to prioritize increasing the yield rate of its 1nm LPDDR promptly, ensuring the stability of its supply chain. Simultaneously, Samsung should actively seek alternative suppliers to secure the Galaxy S25 series' memory supply, preventing the product launch from being impacted by yield issues from a single supplier.

This incident serves as a wake-up call for other chip manufacturers. While pursuing more advanced process technologies, they must also prioritize yield rate issues. Neglecting yield rate can disrupt product supply and compromise market competitiveness.