GoKawiil
Tech News
ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) announced at the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention that it has begun mass production of its fifth-generation DRAM platform, called G5. The company says the platform uses new self-aligned quadruple patterning with an 11.95nm active-area half-pitch, a 45:1 capacitor aspect ratio, and a high-k metal gate process, delivering roughly 50% more die per wafer than prior generations.
Analyst Kurnal Insights calculated that at current AI-driven memory prices, the revenue value of DRAM per square millimeter of silicon now surpasses the nominal wafer processing cost of TSMC's advanced N2 and N3 logic nodes. Using an assumed DRAM price of $1.50 per gigabit, the newest 1b DRAM generation works out to about $0.654 per mm², compared to roughly $0.424 per mm² for an N3 wafer.
Reuters reports that SK Hynix, which supplies Apple with RAM and flash memory, is discussing a deal with Intel to produce chips at Intel's planned Ohio facility, potentially leasing part of the site. This would mark the first time the South Korean company manufactures memory chips on US soil, though sources say details remain unclear and nothing has been finalized.
Reuters reported that SK Hynix is in early talks with Intel to produce memory chips in the United States, potentially through leasing space at Intel's Ohio plant or forming a joint venture involving cloud companies. Shares of both firms rose in premarket trading following the report, though sources cautioned no final decisions have been made.
SK Hynix is reportedly discussing options with Intel to produce memory chips in the US for the first time, possibly by leasing space at Intel's delayed Ohio fab or forming a joint venture involving cloud companies. SK Hynix has confirmed it is exploring new production sites but says no decisions have been made, and Intel declined to confirm details beyond ongoing investment in the Ohio project.
Micron unveiled a one-time NT$1 million (~$31,650) cash bonus for Taiwan staff as part of a larger rewards package that guarantees at least NT$1.7 million per worker, calling it the largest such payout in company history. Unions representing roughly 10,000 of Micron's 15,000 Taiwan employees rejected the offer, dismissing it as a distraction and instead demanding a 15% profit-sharing arrangement tied to the company's AI-driven earnings surge.
Alongside unveiling the iPhone 18 and its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, Apple raised prices on its older iPhone lineup by roughly $100 in the US, with steeper increases abroad, including about 20.5% in India. The company also discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.
IDC reports global PC shipments dropped 4.9% in the second quarter, yet HP, Dell and Lenovo all posted double-digit revenue gains in their PC segments by prioritizing pricier, AI-capable machines. Tight memory chip supplies driven by AI infrastructure demand have pushed component costs up, prompting manufacturers to shift production toward premium systems rather than budget models.
Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT told investors it is expanding its foothold in premium memory-chip segments, pointing to progress in smartphone and AI-related chip technologies as evidence. The company framed these advances as proof it is closing the gap with established global memory manufacturers.
Personal computer manufacturers are shipping fewer units but charging more per device, and the strategy is currently paying off financially. The shift is being driven by a shortage of memory chips, whose prices have surged due to massive demand from AI infrastructure buildouts.
SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung said he sees no signs of oversupply in the memory chip market and expects the current shortage to persist until 2030, driven largely by AI-related demand for advanced memory like HBM. He made the comments as the company broke ground on a new chip packaging facility in Indiana, part of its broader US expansion tied to growing customer needs.
A preliminary survey found that 80% of Micron Taiwan employees support a possible strike, as the labor union demands the company replace its current bonus structure with a profit-sharing model similar to those at SK hynix and Samsung. Mandatory mediation talks are expected to start by mid-September, as required under Taiwan law before any formal strike vote can occur. The push comes after Micron posted $41.46 billion in revenue and $28.24 billion in net income, fueled largely by AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory chips.