Second-hand RAM may come to cheap phones

The increase in memory prices pushes some phone manufacturers to use second-hand RAM. According to TrendForce's latest report, the share of resoldered memories in the mobile market will remain at 3-4 percent in 2026. However, this rate is expected to increase to 7-9 percent in 2027.

What is second-hand RAM in phones?

RAM is temporary memory that allows the phone to run open applications quickly. Therefore, every smartphone has a certain RAM capacity. When memory becomes expensive, the cost of manufacturers also increases.

Reballed memory is obtained by re-preparing used chips removed from old electronic devices with new solder balls. In other words, memory that worked on another hardware can be installed in a different device. Thus, the old chip gets a second life.

The method is not entirely new. But it was not widely used in the smartphone market until now. The increase in DRAM prices and stock shortages direct manufacturers to this option, especially in entry-level models.

The numbers also show this. The share, which was 3-4 percent in 2026, may reach 7-9 percent in 2027. That's why the share of second-hand RAM is expected to roughly double within a year.

First 4GB LPDDR4X modules

According to TrendForce, the majority of recycled memory on the market consists of 4 GB capacity LPDDR4X modules. These memories are considered suitable for entry-level 4G phones. Therefore, the first group to be affected will be the cheap models.

If prices continue to rise and no relief is expected in the stock in the short term, the use of the method may expand. TrendForce also warns that lower-spec components and repurposed memories may reach mid-segment phones over time. Moreover, it may be possible to see used RAM in some models sold with new memory.

The memory crisis won't end anytime soon

South Korea-based SK Hynix points to a similar picture. The company said in its third-quarter financial results that demand for artificial intelligence products is not slowing down. On the other hand, he predicts that the memory market will continue to grow in the medium and long term.

AI data centers require huge amounts of memory. This demand is driving up costs for consumer electronics manufacturers. As a matter of fact, used RAM modules can be found more frequently in affordable phones.

For now, the concrete date is 2027. TrendForce estimates that the share of second-hand RAM in the mobile market will reach 7-9 percent that year. Accordingly, cheap phones will be the first products to be affected by this change.