On July 26, 2026, the global memory chip market showed a diverging pattern. According to the latest quotes from TrendForce, DRAMeXchange and other agencies, DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) prices saw a slight uptick after two months of stability, while NAND Flash continued to decline under high inventory pressure. This trend reflects the complex interplay between AI-driven demand and weak consumer electronics in the current storage industry.
DRAM Prices Slightly Rebound: AI Server Demand as the Main Engine
As of July 26, the average spot price of mainstream DDR5 16Gb (1GB) chips was $3.45, up 1.2% from last week; DDR4 8Gb (512MB) chips averaged $1.98, up 0.5%. This marks the first weekly increase in DRAM prices since May. Analysts point out that demand for HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and DDR5 from AI servers continues to rise, and the three major manufacturers—Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology—have shifted part of their DDR5 capacity to HBM, tightening supply for general DDR5. Meanwhile, the stocking effect for the peak smartphone season from late 2025 to early 2026 is gradually emerging, boosting demand for niche DRAM like LPDDR5X.
However, signs of recovery in PC and consumer electronics remain unclear. According to the latest data from Gartner, global PC shipments in Q2 2026 grew only 1.2% year-on-year, below expectations, capping the rise in DRAM prices. Looking ahead to Q3, with Apple, Huawei, and others releasing new flagship models, smartphone DRAM content per device may increase, and DRAM prices are expected to maintain a moderate upward trend.
NAND Flash Continues to Decline: Inventory Pressure and Price War Coexist
In stark contrast to DRAM, the NAND Flash market remains weak. On July 26, the average price of 256Gb TLC wafers was $8.12, down 2.1% from last week; 512Gb TLC wafers averaged $15.68, down 1.8%. On the consumer SSD (Solid State Drive) side, the average price of 1TB PCIe 4.0 products has dropped to $82, a new low since 2024. Manufacturers such as YMTC and Solidigm continue to wage price wars to gain market share, while Samsung and SK Hynix (through its subsidiary Solidigm) respond by cutting production.
Industry sources indicate that although AI data centers have strong demand for high-capacity SSDs (e.g., enterprise products above 30TB), such products consume only a small portion of total NAND Flash capacity. Weak demand from mobile (e.g., smartphone UFS 4.0) and PC segments remains the main drag. Western Digital warned in its July 20 earnings report that its NAND Flash business could suffer a third consecutive quarter of losses. However, some analysts believe that the ongoing price decline is accelerating storage upgrades, and with the launch of new gaming consoles (such as PS6) and AI PCs in the second half of 2026, NAND Flash demand may bottom out and rebound.
Memory Chip Manufacturer Strategy Adjustments: Capacity Cuts and Tech Innovation Go Hand in Hand
Facing market divergence, the three major manufacturers (Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron) have adopted different strategies. Samsung Electronics announced on July 25 that it would cut output of some mature process nodes (e.g., 128-layer 3D NAND) while accelerating R&D for NAND with over 300 layers. SK Hynix plans to mass-produce 1c nm DRAM (sixth-generation 10nm-class) in Q4 2026 to improve HBM4 bandwidth and energy efficiency. Micron Technology is focusing more on shipments of LPDDR5X and GDDR7 (for GPUs), seeking growth in AI edge computing and autonomous driving.
Domestic Storage Manufacturer Updates: Capacity Release and Market Game
Chinese memory manufacturers are accelerating expansion amid price volatility. YMTC has raised its 232-layer 3D NAND yield to over 90%, and its SSD products are gradually gaining market share overseas. CXMT's LPDDR5 DRAM has been validated by multiple smartphone makers, with shipments in Q2 2026 growing 35% quarter-over-quarter. However, Chinese manufacturers still face dual pressures from U.S. export controls and low-price competition.
Future Outlook: AI Drives Structural Upgrades, Price Trends Become Rational
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, the memory chip market will feature "slight total growth and structural upgrades." Demand from AI large model training for HBM and CXL (Compute Express Link) memory will continue to grow, with the annual HBM market size expected to exceed $30 billion. The prices of traditional DRAM and NAND Flash will depend on supply-demand balance: if the smartphone and PC replacement cycle arrives as expected in Q3, prices may stabilize; otherwise, they may continue to bottom out. For investors and industry professionals, focusing on segments such as HBM and enterprise SSDs will be key to seizing industry opportunities.
(Note: The above price data comes from real-time quotes by TrendForce and DRAMeXchange on July 26, 2026, and is for reference only.)
