Sky-high RAM prices to persist
Latest report predicts demand to last till 2030
Memory prices have skyrocketed with the boom in AI infrastructure. Despite some positive signs recently, the price dip may be temporary. Instead, the demand “could remain high through the end of the decade”, according to a recent report by Melius Research.
That’s good news if you have invested in memory manufacturers like Micron and Sandisk, which saw their share prices reach all-time highs in recent weeks. But consumers are bearing the brunt in the form of higher prices for electronics.
Sony, for example, recently announced higher retail prices for the PlayStation 5 console (both standard and Pro models), as well as the PlayStation Portal remote player. Meanwhile, Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine console has been delayed with no release date in sight, though the accompanying Steam Controller is coming out next month. And of course, we have already seen how the higher memory prices have inflated the price of everything from laptops to smartphones.
In fact, Samsung is apparently headed for its first annual loss for its smartphone division. Obviously, they can blame memory prices for this. But having tried Samsung’s latest flagship and upper mid-range phones, I don’t think Samsung can pin everything on inflation. Their phones have have offered few reasons for consumers to upgrade, especially compared with the ones from Chinese competitors. If not for their moat in the US smartphone market, which has been hostile to Chinese smartphones, I think Samsung would have been less complacent.
On the flip side, Samsung’s semiconductor arm is making big bucks from the higher memory prices, so I guess it pays to be a giant conglomerate. No such relief for the average consumer that’s being squeezed by inflation — the impact of the Iranian war has yet to be fully realised in every country — and a relatively lacklustre job market.
This week, we tested DJI’s more affordable drones, heard Denon’s new wireless speakers, and played the sequel to one of our favourite PlayStation 5 games.
The DJI Lito 1 and DJI Lito X1 are light (under 250g) in terms of their actual physical weight, and also on your wallet. These budget drones start from S$379 for the DJI Lito 1 and S$469 for the Lito X1, making them perfect for beginners. The pricier Lito X1 has a better camera and onboard storage. But they are both easy to fly and take good videos and pictures.
Denon takes on Sonos with its latest wireless speakers. The middle of the three speakers in the new lineup, the Denon Home 400, is somewhat analogous to the Sonos Era 300. Both come with up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos, though the Denon is significantly more expensive. However, the HEOS platform used by Denon is also compatible with a couple of other brands, and offer just about everything you’d want, from streaming music services to multi-room audio.
Saros offers a similar gameplay as the developers’ previous Returnal game. It is still a third-person single-player sci-fi shooter with rogue-like elements, but the game now features an ensemble cast. There’s also a new gameplay mechanic in the form of a shield that lets you block and absorb projectiles. Besides the exciting gameplay, the story pulls you in, especially the excellent voice-acting.