There are several variants of LPDDR5 memory that have been developed by SK hynix, with the Korean manufacturer also pushing technological boundaries to issue the world’s fastest LPDDR5T RAM that can reach speeds of 9.6Gbps. However, the company has also worked on solutions present at the other end of the spectrum, with the goal being not just to deliver blazing-fast speeds but also to focus on efficiency. This is why the company has been working on LPDDR5M memory, a new standard that operates on lower voltage than LPDDR5X, resulting in reduced power consumption.
The operating voltage of LPDDR5M is 0.98V, making it less than the standard 1.05V of LPDDR5X; SK hynix is reportedly focusing on smartphones with on-device AI capabilities
As part of its push to develop cutting-edge solutions for a variety of applications, tipster @Jukanlosreve spotted a report on the Korean website Money Today concerning SK hynix’s plans to tap into the power-efficient category of mobile DRAM. The LPDDR5M standard operates at 0.98V, which is lower than what LPDDR5X requires to operate, which is 1.05V. This difference allows LPDDR5M memory to operate at higher speeds while being 8 percent more efficient.
The new memory will likely be found in smartphones with on-device AI capabilities, with handsets able to run intensive operations locally while consuming less power. The report does not mention which customers will SK hynix will cater to first, but we will not be surprised to learn that Chinese OEMs will be lining up in droves, given that they have already adopted silicon-carbon batteries, which deliver increased runtime thanks to their increased capacities.
However, Apple’s intentions of presenting efficient solutions to the masses were made clear when it unveiled the C1, its custom 5G modem that currently powers the iPhone 16e. By ditching Qualcomm’s Snapdragon baseband chips for its latest release, the iPhone 16e touts better battery life than any other 6.1-inch iPhone, meaning that adopting LPDDR5M RAM to make its products consume less power could be something that aligns with Apple’s interests. The release of this technology should happen later in the year, and we will provide updates soon, so stay tuned.
News Source: Money Today
