LPDDR6 Memory To Power Next-Gen Devices: JEDEC To Finalize Standard By Q3 2024

JEDEC is expected to finalize the specifications of the next-gen LPDDR6 memory by the third quarter of 2024, reports ETnews.

The LPDDR6 memory will be replacing the existing LPDDR5 memory and its various iterations that were announced as early as 2019. It will be almost five years since the LPDDR5 standard has been out in the market. We have seen the likes of LPDDR5x from Samsung & Micron while SK hynix has also made a LPDDR5T variant which offers transfer speeds as high as 9.6 Gbps. These lower-power DRAM offerings make them ideal for smartphones, thin & light devices, and even laptops/Mini PCs.

We have seen the adoption of the LPDDR5(X/T) variants in a range of other products with the most recent being the LPCAMM2 modules which are set to revolutionize the PC segment owing to their small modular form factor and offer increased capacity and upgradability options. Now according to industry sources within the memory segment, it is being reported that JEDEC is on the verge of finalizing the specs for the next generation of LPDDR memory known as LPDDR6.

Talking with officials within the semiconductor industry, Etnews got the following quotes:

 Official #1: “We have held various discussions to confirm the LPDDR6 standard specification,” and added, “(The standard specification) will be released in the third quarter of this year.”

 Official #2 : “Technology development and standard discussions are taking place in a way to minimize power consumption, which increases along with the increase in data processing.”

via ETnews

While little is known about LPDDR6 and what it will offer besides increased transfer rates, there are reports that on-die processing and computing will be a big thing with the new standard & it will be designed precisely to meet the demands of the new AI PC segment that is here to stay for the long term. Once announced, we can expect DRAM manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix & Micron to be fully onboard in the development and production of their new products utilizing the LPDDR6 memory standard. It is also reported that LPDDR6 will mark its first introduction with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips which had been rumored before too.

Now it has to be mentioned that it is unlikely that we see LPDDR6 being adopted in late 2024 or even early 2025. It might be possible that we see the first products with LPDDR6 by late 2025 or even early 2026 (CES).