ComputInsights #14 – Weekly Computing Market Insights

Market Growth

DDR5 Price Surge Slows; DRAM and NAND Flash Hikes Set to Ease in Q3

TrendForce reports that DDR5 spot price increases are losing steam, with overall DRAM price hikes expected to moderate in Q3 2025. DDR4 remains more attractive to buyers, and contract prices are catching up to spot rates. Meanwhile, NAND flash prices have peaked, with weaker buying momentum leading to a slight dip in spot prices.

Meta AI Hits 1 Billion Monthly Users, Zuckerberg Says at Shareholders Meeting

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that its generative AI assistant, Meta AI, now serves over 1 billion users monthly across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, including both active and passive usage. The milestone, revealed at Meta’s annual shareholder meeting, comes amid fierce AI competition with Google, whose AI Overviews now reach 1.5 billion users. Meta launched a standalone Meta AI app in April to boost engagement, with WhatsApp seeing the fastest growth.

Company-Specific News

SK hynix Follows Rivals with 12% DRAM Price Hike Amid Market Shifts

SK hynix is raising consumer DRAM chip prices by 12%, joining Micron, Samsung, and others in response to evolving market demand and higher HBM shipments. Despite previous claims of focusing on demand over pricing, the company now aligns with broader industry trends. SK hynix says its HBM sales and exposure to U.S. tariffs remain stable despite geopolitical uncertainties.

Samsung Targets HBM4 Comeback with Improved 1c DRAM Yields

Samsung is preparing to sample its next-gen HBM4 memory, built on redesigned 1c DRAM, to major clients like NVIDIA in Q3 2025, with mass production expected later this year. Under Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun’s leadership, Samsung has addressed previous design flaws and improved yields to 30–40%, aiming to reclaim ground in the HBM market. The company’s integrated foundry advantage and strategic partnerships position it to compete with SK hynix and Micron in next-gen AI GPU memory.

CXMT to Abandon DDR4 by Mid-2026—DDR5 Oversupply Looms Amid Policy-Driven Pivot

China’s top DRAM maker CXMT will phase out DDR4 production for PCs and servers by mid-2026, rapidly shifting to DDR5 and HBM under government pressure. This move may trigger a global DDR5 oversupply, despite current tightness. CXMT’s aggressive growth could soon account for up to 15% of global DRAM output, but quality issues persist with its DDR5 chips, including instability above 60°C. Meanwhile, DDR4 prices have doubled in China amid a shrinking supply from CXMT, Samsung, and SK Hynix. Industry analysts warn the sudden DDR5 deluge could disrupt pricing and market balance.