DigiTimes said next-generation memory may face sharp price increases as AI demand collides with long production cycles, low initial yields and heavier wafer consumption than DDR5 DRAM.
HBM4 prices could rise from $2 per kbit to $4-$5 or more in the second half of 2026 as demand tied to AI accelerates into structural supply constraints, DigiTimes reported. The publication cited a four- to six-month production cycle, significantly low initial yields and wafer usage roughly three times that of standard DDR5 DRAM, factors that can tighten available supply and lift pricing for advanced memory used in AI hardware.