Smartphone makers are expected to increase their use of recovered memory chips as DRAM prices rise, with the shift initially concentrated in budget 4G devices. TrendForce forecasts that phones using reused RAM will account for 3% to 4% of the market in 2026, rising to 7% to 9% in 2027.
The recovered supply is currently dominated by 4GB LPDDR4X chips, a configuration commonly used in smartphones priced below €175. TrendForce expects additional DRAM price increases in the first quarter of 2027, which could encourage manufacturers to extend the practice to higher-priced models. Reused volumes would still be too small to halt broader memory-price increases.
The process, known as reballing, physically prepares a chip removed from an older circuit board for installation in another device.
- The memory chip is removed from its original board using heat.
- Its electrical contacts are cleaned.
- The solder balls that connect the chip to a board are replaced.
- The refurbished chip is mounted in another device.
The cost savings come with reliability concerns. TrendForce warns that recovered chips can vary in quality and may carry a greater risk of failure or reduced service life. For phone makers, that could mean more warranty repairs and higher after-sales servicing costs, even as reused components help control near-term bill-of-materials expenses.
