Why Samsung is delaying DDR4's phase-out amid the AI DRAM boom

The strain on the global DRAM supply chain is unlikely to ease anytime soon. Memory makers are pivoting toward the booming AI segment, where margins dwarf those on consumer hardware. As a result, companies like Samsung are visibly dialing back attention to everyday PC and laptop users.

For a while, DDR4 held on as the wallet-friendly option while prices climbed on newer memory types. Vendors were in no hurry to push DDR4 costs sharply higher, which kept the platform attractive. That was especially true for owners of AMD’s AM4 systems, who continued to upgrade or build fresh rigs despite the platform’s age.

Now, according to DigiTimes, Samsung Electronics is revising its DDR4 phase-out strategy. The company plans to slow the withdrawal of DDR4 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and, in the first quarter of 2026, sign long-term contracts with select customers. These agreements will lock in supply under non‑negotiable, non‑cancelable terms, with pricing fixed regardless of future market swings.

That doesn’t signal a full mass-market revival. Most output will be channeled to servers and enterprise clients. The DRAM supercycle, powered by the explosive growth of AI, has introduced delays across the board—from standard DRAM to high-performance HBM. In this environment, Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are steering resources toward the most profitable lines.

In short, DDR4 is making a kind of return, but mainly as a stopgap for data centers and server infrastructure rather than a mainstream pick for gamers and home PCs. Manufacturers appear intent on extracting maximum value from scarcity, postponing a clean break with the older standard without shifting priorities toward everyday users—so anyone hoping for a windfall in the retail channel may want to keep expectations modest.