Samsung's influence over the smartphone memory market keeps growing

Samsung remained the largest global smartphone memory manufacturer in 2020 and the company improved its DRAM and NAND market share by a couple of points, reveals new data from market research firm Strategy Analytics via The Korea Bizwire. The source claims that the global smartphone memory market grew by 4% on-year in 2020, topping $41 billion.

Last year, Samsung was reportedly able to secure 49% of the global smartphone memory market after it had improved its share by 2% year-on-year. In terms of market share, Samsung was followed by SK Hynix with 21% of the market. US-based chipmaker Micron Technology captured third place after it had secured a 13% market share.

Samsung was also able to improve its revenue share from 50.9% in 2019 up to 55% a year later. Meanwhile, the tech giant had a revenue share of 42% in the NAND flash market and was followed by rivals including Kioxia Holdings and SK Hynix.

According to previous data shared by market watchers, Samsung's earnings from the DRAM and NAND sectors are likely to improve further in the first two quarters of 2021 as memory chip prices increase. DRAM costs are expected to rise by 13-18% in the following months. At the same time, NAND flash contract prices are also likely to increase by anywhere between 3-to-8% in Q2, 2021.

Mihai Matei - Senior Editor

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First Samsung device: SGH-A800

Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.

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