Chinese smartphone OEMs recycle 5-6 year old DRAM to boost shipments

Chinese smartphone makers are reusing DRAM recovered from 5-6 year old devices in base models to raise shipment volumes amid a shortage and price surge in LPDDR memory. The recycling process involves separation, testing and re-soldering, but inevitably degrades performance.

• Recycled DRAM is being used in base smartphone models from Chinese OEMs
• Chips are pulled from 5-6 year old devices, tested and re-soldered
• A dedicated DRAM recycling market has emerged in China's Hwachang Bay
• Lenovo, HP and Dell have already signed long-term memory supply deals through 2027