Samsung’s semiconductor unit and its smartphone division have agreed to continue mobile DRAM supplies on a three-month pricing cadence rather than locking in annual prices, according to industry sources. The device solutions team has set baseline volume commitments for next year to try to prevent shortages before the launch of Galaxy S26. The arrangement keeps supply flexibility but leaves the mobile experience group exposed to rapid market swings because Samsung is not exempting its own divisions from fluctuations in DRAM and NAND prices.
The figures in the report underline the pressure on both teams. Mobile DRAM prices have more than doubled, with 12 GB LPDDR5X modules reaching around $70 in late November, up from about $33 in January. Processors, already the most significant expense in any smartphone, have increased by 25.5% compared to the previous year, raising the dx division’s Q3 procurement bill to 10.9 trillion Korean won from 8.7 trillion won. Together, processor and memory now account for about 35% of the total device cost, a 5% increase from historical levels, adding cost pressure for the mobile experience team as they finalize device pricing and configurations.
The internal tension also reflects a strategic reallocation inside Samsung. The device solutions division is pursuing higher margins from hbm used in Artificial Intelligence accelerators, reallocating wafers and capacity away from standard mobile chips. That shift helps the semiconductor unit capture more profitable enterprise demand but reduces internal supply for phones just as mobile memory prices climb. The report notes that buyers who signed longer DRAM contracts earlier may regret those arrangements if spot prices continue to rise, while quarterly windows transfer short-term market risk back to the phone business.
