Samsung starts mass production of 16GB LPDDR5 memory at its Korean factory

Samsung recently announced that they have begun mass production of 16GB LPDDR5 flash memory on the second production line already in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. This is the industry's first 16GB LPDDR5 flash memory product for mobile devices. It is reported that these chips are manufactured using Samsung's third-generation 10nm-class EUV technology (1z).

As a leader in the global flash memory market, Samsung claims that this new LPDDR5 DRAM chip has the industry's highest mobile storage capacity and performance. It is reported that its data transfer rate can reach 6400Mbps, which is 16% faster than the previous generation 12GB LPDDR5 DRAM chip, and can transfer 51.2GB of data in one second after packaging.

In addition, due to the use of the 1z process, a single chip is 30% thinner than the previous generation, and 10 chips can make up a 16GB capacity, while the previous generation required 12 chips. The upgraded process can further increase the potential of 5G mobile phones, leaving room for larger batteries and denser antenna layouts, and it will also become easier to manufacture mobile phone products with foldable screens.

Samsung also plans to launch LPDDR5 DRAM chips for automotive applications, providing cars with a wider temperature range and reliability standards. It is reported that the factory area for producing 10nm EUV LPDDR5 DRAM chips exceeds 129,000 square meters, which is also Samsung's largest semiconductor production line to date.

Samsung’s executive vice president of Flash Memory Products and Technology said, “The 1z-based 16GB LPDDR5 flash memory raises the industry standard to a new threshold, overcoming the development barriers of advanced DRAM products. We lead the entire flash memory market and will continue to expand our advanced DRAM product lineup and exceed customer needs.”

Samsung estimates that the first batch of flagship products equipped with 16GB LPDDR5 packaged memory will be available in batches in 2021, and is expected to be seen on next year's Samsung Galaxy S21.