HardwareNov 7, 2026, 5:07 AM UTC·1 min read

RAM shortage: Chinese phone makers reuse old LPDDR4X chips

A market observer says Chinese manufacturers are recycling used LPDDR4X DRAM chips for a growing number of smartphones priced under 200 euros.

Close-up of a budget smartphone circuit board with a DRAM memory chip. — Image: c't Magazin

The memory shortage is now reaching into the budget smartphone segment in an unusual way. According to a market observer, Chinese companies are installing recycled, previously used LPDDR4X DRAM chips in a growing number of smartphones that cost less than 200 euros.

What is happening

LPDDR4X is a mobile memory standard that has been on the market for several years and is common in affordable devices. Rather than buying new chips, some manufacturers are reportedly recovering these components and fitting them into new phones. The observer says the practice is spreading to more models in the low-price class.

The move points to the pressure on the memory market. When DRAM is scarce and expensive, makers of cheap devices have little room to absorb higher component costs, because their margins are already thin and their price points are fixed.

Why it matters

For buyers of inexpensive phones, the development raises questions about transparency. Used memory is not necessarily defective, but it is rarely disclosed on a spec sheet, and it is unclear how thoroughly the chips are tested before reuse or how long they will last in everyday use.

It also shows how the RAM crisis can ripple down the supply chain: if new chips are hard to come by, the secondary market for components becomes more attractive. Which brands and models are affected has not been made clear in the available information, and no manufacturer has been named.

Whether the practice remains a niche workaround or becomes widespread will likely depend on how quickly memory supply recovers and on whether regulators or retailers start asking for clearer disclosure of component origin.

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Tags:ram shortagelpddr4xdramsmartphoneschinabudget phones