2026 AI Memory Trends: HBM3e Price & DDR5 Shortage

Last Modified

2026-01-15

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Aperiodically

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Driven by robust Server and AI demand, the displacement of DDR5 capacity has triggered price surges. HBM3e prices are poised to rise due to increased orders and specification upgrades, strengthening supplier bargaining power. Although SRAM offers low latency, cost and capacity constraints ensure it remains complementary to HBM rather than a replacement.

Key Highlights

Demand-Driven Price Surge: Sustained server demand has caused severe DDR5 shortages, leading to a significant rise in contract prices and profitability.
Upward Revision for HBM3e: Increased AI orders and a shift toward HBM3e specifications have tightened supply, driving transaction prices back up and potentially erasing expected declines.
Irreplaceable Market Position: While SRAM excels in low-latency inference, its cost and capacity limitations prevent it from replacing HBM as the mainstream memory for AI platforms in the near term.

Introduction
SRAM's Low Latency Draws Attention, Yet Unlikely to Challenge HBM's Dominance as the Mainstream Memory for AI Applications in the Near Term
Suppliers Gain Pricing Power; HBM3e Transaction Prices See Further Upside

Category: AI Server/HBM/Server