Skip to main content

The new norm in smartphones could be 8GB of memory, thanks to Samsung

samgung 8gb lpddr4 samsungmemorychips
Samsung
With Samsung in the midst of the biggest smartphone debacle of the past few years, which involved a complete recall of the Note 7, it’s easy to forget that the company has also been working on new memory chips. These new chips combine a 10nm chipset with 8GB of LPDDR4, making them the most compact, high-capacity memory chips in the world, with the potential to bring huge volatile storage to smartphones.

While the world and his dog might know Samsung as one of the most prominent smartphone manufacturers, it has its fingers in a lot of pies. One of them is memory chip development, and its latest creation could very well be the next-generation update we have been looking forward to.

Internally, the chip holds four, 16 gigabit LPDDR4 memory chips, operating at as much as twice the speed of traditional DDR4 DRAM found in PCs — and offering as much as 4.26 gigabytes per second. This would improve multitasking capabilities and make it easier for heftier uses like virtual reality and 4K video streaming.

If it is any indication of how console gaming went after the major systems upgraded to 8GB of system RAM, we can expect larger smartphone game textures and larger download sizes because of it.

As impressive as this development is — 8GB of RAM only recently became commonplace in desktop gaming PCs — PocketNow raises an interesting caution. While 8GB of RAM in a phone sounds great, we still have not seen Samsung’s 6GB handset, the Galaxy C9. The 6GB chips were announced back in 2015, so just because Samsung claims to have built the world’s first 8GB LPDDR4 chip, we are not likely to see them in smartphones anytime soon.

The first smartphone we could realistically expect to come sporting the new hardware standard is the Galaxy Note 8, which is scheduled for a 2017 release, though Samsung is mulling over killing off that brand altogether after the recent fiasco. We will have to wait and see.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
Microsoft and Samsung could team up on new AR headset
microsoft hololens 2

Samsung and Microsoft might be teaming up on a new augmented reality headset, with a possible release coming in 2024, according to a new rumor.

Digital Trends can not verify the original report behind the rumor, but according to The Elec, Microsoft and Samsung have reportedly started working on this project that's scheduled to last two years. Samsung apparently started its task force for the project in March and Microsoft in the summer. Multiple divisions of Samsung's business are also involved in the product, including Samsung Display, Electro-Mechanics, and SDI.

Read more
How to use Samsung’s PC-emulating DeX mode on Galaxy smartphones
best galaxy note 8 accessories

Samsung's phones are crammed with special features, so it's understandable if one or two have passed you by. However, Samsung's DeX mode is something you absolutely don't want to miss. Essentially turning your powerful Galaxy smartphone into a versatile desktop computer, Samsung DeX allows you to hook up a computer monitor, mouse, and keyboard and start using your phone as a PC.

While you might expect a trick like this to be trumpeted loudly and then abandoned, Samsung has actually been consistently improving DeX. The feature used to require a specific (and expensive) dock to use, but over the years, Samsung has refined the process, so now you now only need a simple (and cheaper) USB-C cable to use DeX mode. You can even connect wirelessly to your smart TV if you have a Galaxy Note 20 or Note 20 Ultra. Here's a quick guide on how to use Samsung's DeX mode.
What is DeX?

Read more
Samsung’s new S8 high-resolution monitors boast more sustainable design
samsung s6 s7 s8 high resolution monitors monitor

Samsung has unveiled its high-resolution monitor lineup for 2021, headlined by the flagship S8 series. In total, there are 12 different models spanning the S8, S7, and S6 series, each delivering advanced features such as HDR 10 support, 178-degree-wide viewing angles, and color accurate designs. This year, Samsung is also highlighting the improved environmental impacts that these monitors bring, which should make you feel a little better about your purchase as you continue to outfit and upgrade your work-from-home office space.

“Our 2021 high-resolution lineup delivers dazzling picture quality and powers enhanced performance, all the while ensuring user comfort with a streamlined, eco-conscious design," said Hyesung Ha, a Samsung senior vice president.

Read more