SK Hynix triples revenue, Samsung’s memory unit grows 15% on the quarter — TrendForce expects more DRAM and NAND price jumps this winter.
Key points
- SK Hynix reported record third-quarter 2026 revenue of roughly 104.6 trillion won, up 328% from a year earlier, with an 80% operating margin.
- Samsung Electronics also posted a record quarter with 195.3 trillion won in revenue; its Device Solutions (memory) division grew 15% from the prior quarter to a record level.
- Market researcher TrendForce expects fourth-quarter 2026 contract prices to rise another 10% to 15% for DRAM and 15% to 20% for NAND flash.
- SK Hynix expects the global memory shortage to persist until at least 2030 — with knock-on effects for PC, laptop and SSD prices in the US as well.
Samsung and SK Hynix both posted record results in the memory chip business for the third quarter of 2026. Market researchers expect further price jumps for RAM and SSDs in the US this winter.
Both South Korean companies are riding a global boom in demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence. Data centers now need so much working memory and flash storage for AI training and AI applications that manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the traditional market for PCs, laptops and smartphones at the same time.
How hard that is hitting US shoppers shows up at retail: a mainstream 32GB DDR5-6000 memory kit from Corsair — the Vengeance CL30 — was listed at Newegg for $559.99 on November 8, 2026 (down from a $625.99 list price), according to Newegg’s own listings. That price does not include state sales tax, which is added at checkout and varies by state.
Samsung’s and SK Hynix’s record quarters
SK Hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chipmaker after Samsung, reported on October 28, 2026 that its third-quarter 2026 revenue reached roughly 104.6 trillion won. That is up 32% from the prior quarter and 328% from the same quarter a year earlier — the first time the South Korean company has topped 100 trillion won in a single quarter.
Operating profit climbed to a record 83.3 trillion won, up 38% from the prior quarter and 632% from a year earlier, according to the company’s own announcement. That puts the operating margin at 80%. Net profit, by contrast, fell 58% to 39.8 trillion won, because a one-time gain from the sale of Kioxia shares had boosted the prior quarter’s comparison figure.
Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chipmaker, reported on October 29, 2026 that group-wide revenue for the same period hit 195.3 trillion won — a new quarterly record by the company’s own account. Its Device Solutions division, which covers memory chips, grew 15% from the prior quarter and reached record levels for both revenue and operating profit. Samsung’s consumer electronics unit, Device eXperience, posted an operating loss of 0.8 trillion won over the same period.
“The customer trust we’ve built through our technology competitiveness is translating into long-term contracts.”
Kwak Noh-Jung, CEO, SK Hynix (South Korea), presenting third-quarter results on October 28, 2026
SK Hynix said in its announcement that long-term supply contracts with 14 major customers now cover more than half of its planned worldwide production capacity for 2027 and 2028. For 2026, the company plans to pay out about 100 trillion won to shareholders.
Why memory chips are so scarce right now
Both companies cite demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), used in AI data centers, as the main driver. SK Hynix said its M15X plant is set to run at maximum capacity by year-end, and that the new HBM4 generation should overtake the previous HBM3E generation in both unit volume and revenue in the fourth quarter.
Because factories for cutting-edge manufacturing processes take years to build, supply cannot expand quickly. SK Hynix said it expects demand for memory chips to outstrip available supply through at least 2030. In the near term, the company said, demand from businesses and consumers for AI services is driving the market; in the medium term, applications such as autonomous driving and robotics are expected to add further demand.
The same shortage was already a factor in Apple’s most recent quarterly results (in German), which cited rising memory costs as a reason for higher iPhone and Mac prices. According to market researcher TrendForce, the shortage is now reaching cheaper devices too: the share of refurbished memory chips used in budget smartphones (in German) is projected to climb to as much as 9% by 2027.
What it means for RAM and SSD prices
Market researcher TrendForce forecasts that contract prices for conventional DRAM will climb 10% to 15% quarter over quarter in the fourth quarter of 2026, while NAND flash — the basis of SSDs — is expected to rise 15% to 20%. Contract prices are what chipmakers charge large customers such as laptop and smartphone manufacturers; they feed through to retail prices with a delay.
As early as October 2026, the average fixed price for a mainstream DDR4 8-gigabit PC memory chip hit a record $27.50, up 5.77% from September, according to TrendForce data. NAND flash prices, by contrast, temporarily halted a 21-month streak of increases that same month — prices for the benchmark 128-gigabit chip held steady in October.
What another price jump could mean
- Current price: $559.99 for a 32GB DDR5-6000 Corsair Vengeance CL30 kit, lowest listed price at Newegg, as of November 8, 2026. Price excludes state sales tax.
- Math for a further 15% increase: $559.99 × 1.15 ≈ $644.00, or about $84 more for the same product.
This is Net Trends’ own calculation based on TrendForce’s contract-price forecast. Contract prices and retail prices don’t necessarily move in lockstep, so this is a general indication, not a prediction for this specific product.
What US buyers should know right now
For anyone buying a new computer or upgrading RAM or an SSD, the price picture is shifting noticeably. The chipmakers’ numbers don’t support a blanket buying recommendation, since retail prices depend on supply, retailer and model. But the reported market trends offer a useful guide.
A practical checklist before buying a PC or laptop
- Compare current prices across several retailers through a price-comparison tool before buying.
- When upgrading RAM or an SSD, lean toward buying more capacity now, since a later upgrade could cost more under current forecasts.
- Check shipping times and warranty terms with the retailer, especially for high-demand memory capacities.
- Remember that listed US retail prices typically exclude state and local sales tax, which is added at checkout and varies by state.
- Anyone delaying an already-planned purchase in hopes of falling prices should weigh the current forecasts, which point toward further increases rather than declines.
These points are no substitute for advice from a retailer or IT specialist, but they offer an initial orientation given how quickly memory prices are climbing.
Frequently asked questions
Why are RAM and SSDs getting more expensive right now?
Samsung and SK Hynix are directing a growing share of their production toward high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers. Because new factories take years to build, supply of conventional RAM and SSD storage cannot expand quickly, while demand keeps rising.
How long do manufacturers expect the memory shortage to last?
SK Hynix says it expects demand for memory chips to exceed available supply through at least 2030. The company says long-term supply contracts with major customers already cover more than half of planned production for 2027 and 2028.
Does this affect smartphone prices too?
Yes. Rising memory costs were also cited as a factor in Apple’s most recent quarterly results, which pointed to higher iPhone and Mac prices. For cheaper smartphones, market researchers say manufacturers are increasingly turning to refurbished memory chips.
How much are prices expected to rise in the fourth quarter of 2026?
TrendForce forecasts that DRAM contract prices will rise 10% to 15% quarter over quarter in the fourth quarter of 2026, and NAND flash prices 15% to 20%. How quickly that reaches retail prices varies case by case.
Sources and status
- Samsung Electronics: “Samsung Electronics Announces Third Quarter 2026 Results”, Samsung Newsroom, October 29, 2026.
- SK hynix: “SK hynix Announces 3Q26 Financial Results”, news.skhynix.com, October 28, 2026.
- Market researcher TrendForce: forecast for fourth-quarter 2026 DRAM and NAND contract prices, published September 30, 2026.
- Market researcher TrendForce: October data on DRAM and NAND prices, as of October 31, 2026.
- Newegg.com: Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 memory kit listings, accessed November 8, 2026. Prices shown exclude state sales tax.
Research and data as of: November 8, 2026.
Transparency note: AI-assisted tools were used in researching, structuring and writing this article. The sources used are listed in the article. Publication takes place only after manual editorial approval. Translation of the German original on Net Trends, with US pricing researched separately for this edition.
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