LPDDR5X in 2026: How Next-Gen Mobile Memory Is Redefining Smartphone Performance, AI, and Value

Smartphone performance in 2026 is no longer defined by the processor alone. Many users feel that even flagship chips cannot show their true power without the right memory behind them.

This is where LPDDR5X memory quietly changes everything. Faster data transfer, lower power consumption, and strong support for on-device AI all come together to shape how modern smartphones actually feel in daily use.

If you care about mobile AI, high-resolution photography, smooth gaming, and long battery life, understanding LPDDR5X will help you choose smarter and avoid marketing traps. This article explains why memory standards now matter as much as chipsets, and how LPDDR5X is influencing device pricing, resale value, and future-proof usability.

By the end of this article, you will clearly understand how LPDDR5X works, why it matters in real-world scenarios, and how it will impact the smartphone market as the industry prepares for the next transition toward LPDDR6.

Why Memory Standards Matter More Than Ever in 2026 Smartphones

In 2026 smartphones, memory standards matter more than ever because they directly define what users can actually do with their devices. As semiconductor miniaturization approaches physical limits, CPU and GPU gains alone are no longer enough. **The memory subsystem has become the decisive factor that unlocks real-world performance, energy efficiency, and on-device AI capability**.

This shift is widely recognized by industry bodies such as JEDEC and leading manufacturers like Samsung and Micron, which emphasize that modern mobile workloads are increasingly memory-bound rather than compute-bound. In practical terms, even the most advanced SoC cannot deliver its promised power if the memory standard fails to supply data fast and efficiently enough.

One major reason memory standards are now critical is the rise of on-device AI. Voice recognition, real-time translation, image generation, and contextual assistance all require large neural models to reside and operate in memory. According to technical disclosures from Samsung Semiconductor, higher memory bandwidth significantly reduces the so-called memory wall, allowing AI inference to run locally without cloud latency or privacy risks.

Another overlooked factor is energy efficiency. Battery technology improves incrementally, but user expectations have leaped forward. **Advanced memory standards such as LPDDR5X achieve up to 25 percent better power efficiency through dynamic voltage and frequency scaling**, which directly translates into longer daily usage rather than benchmark numbers.

Memory standards also shape device longevity. As operating systems and AI features grow heavier each year, phones with outdated memory architectures struggle to keep up, even if their processors remain capable. Analysts cited by Counterpoint Research note that devices equipped with modern memory standards retain usability and resale value far longer, a crucial point in an era of rising smartphone prices.

Ultimately, in 2026 smartphones, memory is no longer a background specification. It is the foundation that determines speed, intelligence, battery life, and long-term value. Choosing the right memory standard means choosing how future-proof a smartphone truly is.

What LPDDR5X Really Is: Technical Definition and Evolution

LPDDR5X is defined as the most advanced low‑power DRAM standard for mobile devices, formally specified by JEDEC, the globally recognized semiconductor standardization body. It is positioned as an evolutionary extension of LPDDR5 rather than a completely new generation, and this distinction is important for understanding its role in modern smartphones. **LPDDR5X is designed to extract maximum real‑world performance under strict power and thermal constraints**, which are unavoidable in thin, passively cooled devices.

Historically, LPDDR emerged as a mobile‑optimized adaptation of PC‑class DDR memory, prioritizing energy efficiency over raw frequency. LPDDR5X continues this lineage while dramatically raising the performance ceiling. According to technical disclosures from Samsung Semiconductor and Micron Technology, LPDDR5X achieves peak data rates of up to 10.7Gbps, compared with 6.4Gbps for standard LPDDR5. This increase is not simply about speed; it reflects a deeper architectural shift aimed at sustaining bandwidth without proportional power growth.

One defining evolution lies in the physical layer. LPDDR5X introduces pin‑level signal control, allowing inactive pins to be selectively gated. This fine granularity directly reduces wasted switching power. At very high transfer rates, signal integrity becomes a limiting factor, and LPDDR5X addresses this through Pre‑Emphasis technology. By intentionally shaping signal edges, data corruption at frequencies beyond 6.4Gbps is suppressed, enabling stable operation above 10Gbps.

Power management also evolves meaningfully. LPDDR5X adopts Full Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling, dynamically adjusting voltage and frequency in real time based on workload. JEDEC‑aligned implementations operate across multiple voltage domains, as low as 0.5V in certain modes. **This architectural choice allows LPDDR5X to deliver higher bandwidth while consuming less energy per transferred bit**, a balance that defines its technical identity in 2026 smartphones.

How LPDDR5X Achieves Ultra-High Speed and Signal Stability

LPDDR5X reaches its ultra-high transfer rates not by brute-force clock scaling alone, but through a carefully engineered balance between signaling precision and power-aware control. As semiconductor scaling approaches physical limits, memory interfaces have become one of the most fragile parts of a smartphone system. According to JEDEC’s technical definitions, LPDDR5X addresses this fragility at the physical layer, where signal integrity determines whether speeds above 10 Gbps are usable in real devices.

A core breakthrough lies in the transition from byte-lane control to pin-level control. Earlier LPDDR generations treated groups of data pins as a single unit, which simplified design but wasted energy and increased noise. LPDDR5X, by contrast, allows each pin to be independently managed, enabling inactive lines to be electrically silenced. Samsung Semiconductor explains that this granular control reduces simultaneous switching noise, a major source of data errors at high frequency, while also cutting unnecessary power draw.

This refinement directly contributes to signal stability at extreme speeds. When data toggles at more than 6,400 Mbps, even microscopic impedance mismatches on a smartphone PCB can distort waveforms. LPDDR5X mitigates this through advanced drive strength tuning at the pin level, allowing memory controllers to adapt in real time to layout variations. The result is not just higher peak bandwidth, but a wider stability margin that makes those speeds reliable under thermal and electrical stress.

Another essential mechanism is Pre-Emphasis, a technique long used in high-speed networking and now adapted for mobile DRAM. At data rates beyond 6,400 Mbps, LPDDR5X selectively boosts the leading or trailing edge of a signal to counteract attenuation and inter-symbol interference. Micron Technology describes this as shaping the signal so that, after losses in the transmission path, it arrives at the receiver with cleaner transitions and more predictable timing.

LPDDR5X supports 1-Tap, 1-Post-cursor Pre-Emphasis on critical lines such as DQ, DMI, and RDQS. In practical terms, this means the memory interface can maintain eye-opening margins even at 10 Gbps-class operation. Without this feature, such speeds would exist only on specification sheets, not in mass-produced smartphones. Pre-Emphasis ensures that ultra-high speed remains compatible with thin substrates, compact routing, and aggressive power budgets.

Signal stability is also reinforced by tight integration with dynamic voltage control. Electrical theory shows that switching noise scales with voltage, yet lowering voltage too aggressively can collapse timing margins. LPDDR5X resolves this tension by pairing its physical-layer enhancements with Full Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling. As documented by Samsung, voltage and frequency are adjusted in fine steps based on workload, preserving clean signaling at high speed while minimizing noise and leakage during lighter tasks.

From a system perspective, these technologies redefine what “memory speed” means in a smartphone. It is no longer a single headline number, but a sustained, error-free data path that survives heat, multitasking, and prolonged AI workloads. Industry analyses emphasize that LPDDR5X’s stability-first design is why manufacturers can safely deploy 12 GB or 16 GB configurations without compromising reliability or battery life.

Ultimately, LPDDR5X achieves ultra-high speed by treating signal integrity as a first-class design goal rather than a side effect. Through pin-level control, adaptive Pre-Emphasis, and voltage-aware signaling, it transforms the mobile memory interface into a robust high-speed channel. This engineering discipline is what allows modern smartphones to move enormous volumes of data continuously, without glitches, throttling, or silent errors, even as performance demands continue to escalate.

Power Efficiency Breakthroughs: FDVFS and Low-Voltage Control

Power efficiency has become one of the most decisive battlegrounds in modern smartphone design, and LPDDR5X delivers a clear breakthrough through FDVFS and advanced low-voltage control. Rather than relying on brute-force performance gains, this memory standard focuses on eliminating wasted energy at the electrical level. **The result is not just longer battery life, but more consistent performance under real-world workloads**.

At the core of this efficiency leap is Full Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling, or FDVFS. According to technical disclosures from Samsung Semiconductor and JEDEC working groups, FDVFS enables the memory subsystem to adjust voltage and operating frequency in real time, based on instantaneous demand. Unlike earlier approaches that switched between a small number of fixed states, LPDDR5X can fine-tune these parameters continuously, reducing unnecessary power draw during transient or mixed workloads.

This matters because memory power consumption follows a strict physical rule: it scales with the square of voltage and linearly with frequency. Even a small voltage reduction therefore yields an outsized efficiency gain. **LPDDR5X leverages this relationship by operating across multiple voltage domains, including ultra-low levels around 0.5V**, which are activated during light tasks such as background syncing or audio playback.

Another critical factor is low-voltage control at the physical interface. LPDDR5X introduces pin-level power gating, allowing inactive data pins to be electrically isolated. Micron’s engineering analysis highlights that this granular control reduces background power leakage, especially during always-on AI monitoring or notification polling. **This is a quiet optimization that users never see, yet benefit from all day long**.

FDVFS also works hand in hand with the extended low-frequency modes unique to LPDDR5X. During periods when high bandwidth is unnecessary, the memory can drop to extremely low operating frequencies without incurring latency penalties when ramping back up. Industry testing in 2025–2026 flagship devices shows that these transitions happen fast enough to remain invisible, even during rapid app switching.

From a user perspective, these technologies explain how modern smartphones can promise two-day battery life while running on-device AI models continuously. **Efficiency gains are no longer achieved by slowing the system down, but by making every joule of energy count**. As semiconductor scaling approaches its limits, FDVFS and low-voltage control stand out as foundational techniques that redefine how performance and endurance coexist.

LPDDR5X and On-Device AI: Removing the Memory Bottleneck

As on-device AI becomes a core function of smartphones in 2026, memory bandwidth is no longer a secondary specification but a defining performance factor. **LPDDR5X directly addresses the so-called memory bottleneck that limits real-time AI inference**, especially when large neural network models are executed entirely on the device for privacy and latency reasons.

According to technical disclosures from Samsung Electronics and analyses aligned with JEDEC standards, LPDDR5X reaches data rates of up to 10.7Gbps while maintaining strict power envelopes. This combination is critical for AI workloads, where neural processing units must continuously stream parameters and intermediate tensors between memory and compute blocks. When memory throughput lags, even advanced NPUs remain underutilized.

Micron Technology notes that LPDDR5X reduces effective AI inference latency by keeping data closer to the processor and minimizing stall cycles. **This enables tasks such as real-time translation, photo enhancement, and contextual assistants to run smoothly without cloud dependence**, a shift that fundamentally reshapes user expectations.

Equally important is power efficiency. Through Full Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling, LPDDR5X dynamically matches AI workload intensity, preventing memory from becoming an energy drain during continuous inference. This balance between speed and efficiency is why LPDDR5X is widely regarded as the enabler that allows on-device AI to scale beyond simple demos and into everyday, always-on functionality.

High-Resolution Video, Computational Photography, and Memory Bandwidth

High-resolution video capture and computational photography in 2026 smartphones are no longer limited by sensor technology alone, but by how efficiently massive data streams move through memory. **LPDDR5X fundamentally reshapes this pipeline by providing sustained bandwidth that keeps image sensors, ISPs, and AI accelerators continuously fed with data**.

When recording 8K video or shooting high-frame-rate RAW bursts, a single frame can exceed tens of megabytes. According to technical disclosures from Samsung Semiconductor and Micron Technology, LPDDR5X reaches up to 10.7Gbps per pin, enabling smartphones to buffer and process multiple frames simultaneously without dropped frames or preview stutter. This bandwidth is especially critical for 8K video, where real-time noise reduction, HDR tone mapping, and color correction must be applied on every frame.

Computational photography benefits even more directly. Multi-frame stacking, such as night mode or HDR fusion, requires several exposures to be read from memory, aligned, and merged within milliseconds. Micron’s analysis shows that LPDDR5X can accelerate these pipelines by up to 35 percent compared with earlier generations, while also allowing higher output resolution. **The practical result is not just faster processing, but a higher success rate for complex shots taken handheld**.

Equally important is efficiency. JEDEC’s LPDDR5X specification incorporates fine-grained power control and FDVFS, which dynamically scales voltage and frequency during video capture. This means prolonged 8K recording or extended photo sessions generate less heat and consume less battery, a point frequently emphasized by imaging engineers in Sony’s mobile camera development teams.

In everyday use, this memory bandwidth translates into immediacy. The live camera preview remains fluid, AI-based scene recognition responds instantly, and creators can scrub through high-bitrate footage without lag. **LPDDR5X turns high-resolution imaging from a best-case scenario into a consistently reliable experience**, redefining what users expect from smartphone cameras in 2026.

Mobile Gaming and Multitasking: Real-World Performance Gains

In real-world usage, the advantages of LPDDR5X become most tangible when mobile gaming and multitasking overlap, which is increasingly common in 2026. Modern smartphone users often keep messaging apps, voice chat, screen recording, and background AI features active while playing graphically demanding games. In these scenarios, **memory bandwidth and latency directly shape whether the experience feels fluid or frustrating**.

High-end mobile games today rely on large texture assets, real-time physics calculations, and continuous asset streaming. According to technical documentation from Samsung Semiconductor, LPDDR5X delivers up to 10.7Gbps of bandwidth, significantly reducing memory bottlenecks between the GPU, CPU, and AI accelerators. This allows game engines to maintain stable frame pacing even when background processes compete for memory access.

Multitasking performance is particularly sensitive to memory behavior rather than raw processor power alone. Research shared by Micron Technology explains that faster memory access and reduced latency help minimize cache misses and context-switch delays. In practical terms, this means that when a user switches from a running game to a browser or messaging app and then returns, the game state is preserved in memory without aggressive reloading.

An additional factor often overlooked is power efficiency under load. LPDDR5X incorporates Full Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling, which dynamically adjusts voltage and frequency depending on workload intensity. Samsung reports up to a 25% improvement in power efficiency compared to LPDDR5. For gamers, this translates into **longer sustained performance without thermal throttling**, especially during extended play sessions.

Multitasking also benefits from the growing standardization of 12GB to 16GB LPDDR5X configurations in flagship and upper mid-range devices. Industry observations summarized by Counterpoint Research indicate that larger memory pools reduce the need for aggressive background app termination. As a result, navigation apps, music streaming, and notification services continue running smoothly while a game occupies the foreground.

From a system-level perspective, LPDDR5X helps align GPU workloads with AI-driven features such as real-time upscaling or adaptive frame-rate control. These techniques, increasingly used in mobile game engines, depend on rapid data exchange between memory and on-device AI blocks. With LPDDR5X, this exchange occurs with minimal delay, supporting more consistent visual quality during gameplay.

In everyday use, these improvements may not always appear as benchmark numbers, but they are felt through responsiveness. **Fewer dropped frames, faster task switching, and stable background activity collectively define the real-world gains of LPDDR5X**. For users who treat their smartphone as both a gaming console and a multitasking hub, this memory technology quietly but decisively elevates the experience.

Flagship and Upper Mid-Range Smartphones Using LPDDR5X

In 2026, LPDDR5X has firmly established itself as a defining component in flagship and upper mid-range smartphones, shaping how premium devices differentiate performance from the inside out. Rather than being a background specification, LPDDR5X now directly influences how smoothly AI features, cameras, and multitasking behave in real-world use. As semiconductor scaling approaches physical limits, memory bandwidth and efficiency have become decisive factors in extracting the full potential of modern SoCs.

According to technical disclosures from JEDEC and leading memory manufacturers such as Samsung and Micron, LPDDR5X reaches data transfer speeds of up to 10.7Gbps while maintaining strict power constraints. This balance is especially critical in flagship-class phones, where users expect desktop-like responsiveness without compromising battery life. In upper mid-range devices, the adoption of LPDDR5X signals a strategic shift, bringing performance characteristics that were once exclusive to top-tier models into more accessible price segments.

A key reason flagship smartphones rely so heavily on LPDDR5X is on-device AI. Advanced features such as real-time language translation, generative photo editing, and personalized system optimization require large neural network models to reside in memory. The wide memory bandwidth of LPDDR5X significantly reduces the so-called memory wall, allowing AI accelerators to operate without frequent stalls. Samsung Semiconductor has emphasized that this memory performance is essential for sustaining real-time inference while preserving user privacy by keeping data processing on the device.

Upper mid-range smartphones benefit in a different but equally important way. By pairing efficient SoCs like Snapdragon 7+ series chips with LPDDR5X, manufacturers can deliver flagship-like responsiveness in daily tasks. App switching, background process retention, and heavy web applications feel noticeably faster, even when hardware costs are tightly controlled. This architectural choice explains why several 2026 models in this segment emphasize memory specifications as a core selling point rather than an afterthought.

Camera performance further illustrates the importance of LPDDR5X in premium devices. High-resolution sensors exceeding 48 megapixels generate massive data streams, particularly during burst shooting or 8K video capture. Research cited by Micron shows that the increased bandwidth of LPDDR5X can improve RAW image handling and preview smoothness by double-digit percentages compared to earlier memory standards. This directly translates into shorter processing times and more reliable capture in demanding shooting conditions.

From a market perspective, analysts at Counterpoint Research note that memory costs have risen sharply due to AI server demand, making LPDDR5X a carefully allocated resource. Flagship and upper mid-range smartphones are therefore prioritized, reinforcing their position as long-term, high-value devices. For consumers, this means that choosing a phone equipped with LPDDR5X in 2026 is not only about peak performance today, but also about ensuring sustained usability as AI-driven features continue to expand.

Ultimately, LPDDR5X has become a quiet but decisive differentiator in premium smartphones. By enabling advanced AI, high-end imaging, and fluid multitasking within tight power budgets, it defines what users perceive as a truly modern mobile experience in both flagship and upper mid-range categories.

Rising Memory Prices and Their Impact on Smartphone Costs

Rising memory prices in 2026 are directly reshaping smartphone costs, and LPDDR5X sits at the center of this pressure. As smartphones increasingly rely on high-bandwidth memory to enable on-device AI, advanced imaging, and sustained multitasking, memory is no longer a secondary component but a cost-defining one. **The surge in LPDDR5X prices is not driven by consumer demand alone, but by structural shifts across the entire semiconductor industry.**

According to market analyses from organizations such as Counterpoint Research and industry briefings by major DRAM suppliers, the primary driver is the explosive growth of AI servers. Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron, which together control roughly 94 percent of the global DRAM market, are prioritizing high-margin products like HBM3E for data centers. This strategic allocation has constrained LPDDR supply for smartphones, pushing contract prices sharply upward.

Industry reports indicate that DRAM prices rose by as much as 60 to 70 percent year over year during the transition into 2026. For smartphone manufacturers, memory already accounts for a significant share of component costs, and LPDDR5X amplifies this effect because it is typically paired with higher capacities such as 12GB or 16GB. **Each additional gigabyte now carries a disproportionate cost penalty**, especially for mid-range devices where margins are thin.

This dynamic explains why average selling prices of smartphones are climbing even when visible hardware upgrades appear modest. Counterpoint Research projects that while global smartphone shipments may decline by just over 2 percent, average selling prices could rise by nearly 7 percent. Memory inflation is a central reason. Manufacturers are forced to choose between absorbing costs, reducing specifications, or passing increases directly to consumers, and in most cases, a combination of all three is occurring.

The impact is most pronounced in entry-level and mid-range segments. Industry observers, including analysts cited by ITmedia Mobile, note a growing trend toward simplified configurations: fewer RAM variants, slower storage options, or delayed adoption of higher memory capacities. **Paradoxically, flagship models are less affected**, because their higher prices can better absorb LPDDR5X cost increases, reinforcing the performance gap between premium and affordable devices.

In Japan, rising new-device prices are also reshaping consumer behavior. Market research referenced by NSYS Group suggests that smartphones equipped with LPDDR5X and larger RAM capacities retain value better in the secondary market. Buyers increasingly view memory not just as a performance metric, but as a form of future-proofing against longer OS support cycles and more demanding AI features.

Ultimately, rising LPDDR5X prices are not a temporary fluctuation but a reflection of deeper industry priorities. As long as AI infrastructure continues to dominate DRAM investment, smartphone memory costs will remain elevated. **For consumers, this means that the price of intelligence, speed, and longevity in smartphones is now inseparable from the price of memory itself.**

Why LPDDR5X Improves Long-Term Value and Resale Potential

From a long-term ownership perspective, LPDDR5X plays a quiet but decisive role in protecting device value over several years. Smartphones are no longer replaced every two years as a rule, and buyers increasingly expect four to six years of usable performance. **Memory capability, not raw CPU speed, has become the primary factor that determines whether a device ages gracefully or feels obsolete early.** LPDDR5X directly addresses this shift by extending practical performance headroom well beyond the launch window.

One reason is forward compatibility with future software demands. Major platform vendors such as Apple and Google have clearly signaled that on-device AI will expand aggressively through OS updates rather than hardware refresh cycles. According to Samsung Semiconductor’s technical briefings, LPDDR5X’s higher bandwidth and lower latency reduce the so-called memory wall that often limits AI feature rollouts on older devices. This means phones equipped with LPDDR5X are more likely to receive new AI-driven features without performance penalties, sustaining user satisfaction for years.

Power efficiency is another underappreciated contributor to long-term value. LPDDR5X supports advanced Full Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling, improving memory energy efficiency by up to 25 percent compared to LPDDR5. Over time, this translates into less thermal stress on surrounding components and slower battery degradation. **Devices that maintain stable battery health after three or four years consistently command higher prices in the secondary market**, a trend highlighted by refurbishment industry analyses cited by Counterpoint Research.

Resale dynamics in Japan further amplify this effect. With DRAM prices rising sharply due to AI server demand, reports from NSYS Group note that buyers increasingly treat high-spec memory as a form of insurance against depreciation. Smartphones with 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X are evaluated not just by age, but by their ability to handle current-generation tasks smoothly. This has created a visible price gap between LPDDR5X-equipped models and otherwise similar devices using older memory standards.

Ultimately, LPDDR5X enhances resale potential because it aligns with how value is judged in 2026: adaptability, efficiency, and sustained user experience. **In an era of longer upgrade cycles and rising device costs, LPDDR5X turns memory from a hidden specification into a measurable asset**, one that continues to pay dividends long after the initial purchase.

The Road to LPDDR6: Timeline, Expectations, and Market Reality

The transition from LPDDR5X to LPDDR6 is often discussed as an inevitable next step, but the reality in 2026 is more nuanced and gradual than simple generational replacement. According to information shared by JEDEC members and major memory vendors, LPDDR6 is positioned not as an immediate leap in headline speed, but as a response to mounting power-efficiency constraints in an AI-centric mobile era. **This makes the road to LPDDR6 as much about timing and market readiness as about raw technology**.

Public disclosures from Samsung Electronics indicate that early LPDDR6 implementations target the same peak data rate as LPDDR5X, up to 10.7Gbps, while achieving up to 21% lower power consumption. This approach reflects a clear priority shift. As semiconductor scaling slows, reducing energy per bit has become more valuable than pushing frequency alone, especially for smartphones running persistent on-device AI workloads.

Industry analysts note that this conservative initial specification is intentional. JEDEC sources emphasize long-term scalability, with LPDDR6 designed to eventually reach around 14Gbps once controllers, packaging, and signal integrity mature. **In other words, LPDDR6 is being architected for the second half of its lifecycle, not just its launch window**.

Market reality, however, places firm constraints on adoption speed. With DRAM manufacturers prioritizing high-margin HBM for AI servers, LPDDR supply remains tight. Counterpoint Research and other market observers warn that this pressure will likely confine LPDDR6 to a small subset of flagship models from late 2026 onward. Qualcomm and MediaTek are expected to support LPDDR6 in next-generation SoCs, but volume deployment will depend heavily on memory pricing stabilization.

For device makers, this creates a prolonged coexistence period. LPDDR5X, already mature and widely validated, continues to offer a favorable balance of performance, efficiency, and cost. **As a result, LPDDR6 should be viewed not as an abrupt turning point, but as a slow-burning transition shaped by economics as much as engineering**.

参考文献

• Samsung Semiconductor：LPDDR5X DRAM Overview
• Micron Technology：LPDDR5X Memory Performance Pushes the Limits of What’s Possible
• Sony：Xperia 1 VII Specifications
• Sharp：AQUOS R10 Official Specifications
• SemiconPortal：Top Three DRAM Manufacturers Hold 94% Market Share
• ITmedia Mobile：Smartphone Prices Expected to Rise in 2026 Due to Memory Shortages
• Counterpoint Research：Global Smartphone Shipment Forecast Impacted by Rising Memory Costs