RAMageddon Will Only Get Worse in 2027, According to Samsung

Samsung's semiconductor division, responsible for its memory products, accounted for 72% of the company's total revenue in the last quarter of 2026. This financial performance was achieved, according to Samsung, by prioritizing the manufacturing of HBM4 memory. HBM4 is a specialized type of high-bandwidth memory designed for use in AI datacenters, critical for processing the large datasets and complex algorithms that underpin artificial intelligence applications.

The company's focus on HBM4 production for AI infrastructure coincides with a reported shortage and rising prices for conventional RAM used in consumer electronics. While the article does not detail the extent of any shift in manufacturing capacity, Samsung's explicit prioritization of HBM4 suggests a strategic allocation of resources towards the high-growth, high-margin AI sector.

This strategic choice by a major memory manufacturer like Samsung can influence the broader availability and cost of different types of RAM. The reported increases in prices for consumer devices like gaming consoles may reflect a market where manufacturing capacity is increasingly directed towards more lucrative segments, such as AI datacenters, rather than traditional consumer electronics components.