Samsung unveils latest LPDDR chip in preparation for 'on-device AI era'

Samsung Electronics' latest LPDDR5X chip [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it has developed the fastest low-power double data rate (LPDDR) 5X memory chip, able to transmit data at a speed of 10.7 gigabytes per second.

It is 25 percent faster than its predecessor and its capacity has improved by 30 percent, Samsung Electronics said. It can support a 32-gigabyte mobile dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) package.

It is also the smallest in comparison to other LPDDR chips, leveraging Samsung's 12-nanometer-class process technology.

The latest update to the LPDDR range comes as Samsung Electronics looks to strengthen its position in the ever-evolving memory chip market after playing catchup with SK hynix in the more premium HBM (high bandwidth memory) chip market.

LPDDR is a type of DRAM that is specialized to offer high-performance solutions with low power consumption, commonly needed in mobile devices. It has gained market attention with the emergence of on-device AI, since activating AI without a server or cloud connection means the device has to be topped with smaller and more energy-efficient memory chips.

The latest LPDDR5X is expected to start mass production in the latter half of the year, according to the chipmaker.

"As demand for low-power, high-performance memory increases, LPDDR DRAM is expected to expand its applications from mainly mobile to other areas that traditionally require higher performance and reliability, such as PCs, accelerators, servers and automobiles," said Bae Yong-cheol, executive vice president of memory product planning at Samsung Electronics, in a release Wednesday.

"Samsung will continue to innovate and deliver optimized products for the upcoming on-device AI era through close collaboration with customers."

Its rival, SK hynix, in November 2023 started delivering a 16-gigabyte package of its LPDDR5T chips that can process 9.6 gigabytes of data per second. The LPDDR5T is SK hynix's own upgraded version of the LPDDR5X.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]