South Korean memory giant SK Hynix has warned that the global shortage of DRAM and other chips will likely persist until late 2027, driven by relentless demand from AI data centers. The company’s forecast underscores a structural shift in the semiconductor industry, where high‑bandwidth memory for AI accelerators is prioritized over commodity DRAM used in consumer devices. Inventories have collapsed, lead times have doubled, and legacy lines such as DDR4 are being phased out, leaving everyday products sidelined.

Prices are already surging: DRAM contracts rose 15–20% in late 2025, DDR5 kits doubled, and DDR4 climbed as much as 170%. Smartphones, laptops, and gaming hardware are all affected, with manufacturers confirming higher costs and delayed launches. Analysts caution that this is not a temporary cycle but a demand‑driven “supercycle” sustained by AI’s insatiable appetite.

With capacity booked years in advance and new fabs prioritizing AI workloads, relief may not arrive until 2027 or beyond. For businesses, the imperative is to diversify suppliers and optimize designs, while consumers face a prolonged era of elevated prices and constrained availability, according to SK Hynix.