DRAM prices have doubled, and Samsung’s DS is rationing memory and revisiting supply quarterly, squeezing MX and putting Galaxy S26 timing and prices at risk.
© A. Krivonosov
Internal tensions at Samsung have sharpened as memory prices soar. According to industry sources, the company’s semiconductor division (DS) refused a request from the mobile unit, MX, for extra DRAM to power upcoming Galaxy devices. DS is prioritizing profit while the shortage lets it sell chips at much higher prices, a pragmatic move that inevitably stirs friction inside the company.
Instead of a customary annual contract, supply terms may now be revisited every three months. That forces the mobile business to repeatedly seek new DRAM allocations. Top leadership stepped into the talks, but so far MX has secured supply only for the final quarter of the year — a short-term win that leaves the rest of the roadmap exposed.
The price surge is striking: a 12GB LPDDR5X module now runs about $70, more than double the $33 seen at the start of the year. With supply tight, DS is steering chips toward outside customers at the best possible rate, even if that constrains shipments to its own mobile arm. It’s a classic conglomerate trade-off: near-term margin versus product momentum.
Experts forecast that higher DRAM and NAND prices, combined with efficiency gains from the 2nm process, could help lift Samsung’s operating profit to $69 billion in 2026. The company also aims to put its foundry business on a steady profitable footing by 2027 — a target that explains the hard choices now, including turning down MX’s request for additional memory.
This dynamic could mean the Galaxy S26 lineup, expected in February 2026, faces delays or higher launch prices. That said, in many markets Samsung’s flagships tend to receive discounts quickly, so buyers might not feel a dramatic price shock — even if launch-day optics tell a different story.