The Galaxy S26 series is at the center of a developing supply crisis that has captured the attention of the entire industry. A report from South Korea reveals that Samsung is preparing for high-level talks with Micron to secure stable mobile DRAM supply for its upcoming flagship. As the smartphone’s launch window approaches, rising memory prices and unconfirmed contracts have triggered a series of urgent developments that will determine the course of action.
Emergency Summit Plan at CES 2026
TM Roh, head of Samsung’s DX (Device Experience) division, is scheduled to meet with Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra in Las Vegas on the opening day of CES 2026. Such meetings are rare during the event, but the increasing pressure on LPDDR5X supply seems to have made this meeting inevitable.
Industry experts note that the price increase is unusually sharp. The price of 12GB LPDDR5X modules, which traded at around $30 earlier this year, has skyrocketed to almost $70 by the end of November. This situation is creating uncertainty in Samsung’s negotiations with both its own DS (Device Solutions) division and Micron. Neither supplier has yet finalized terms for the Galaxy S26, putting pressure on the mobile unit as it approaches mass production deadlines.
Several reports from Korea indicate that memory manufacturers are opting for three-month supply agreements over longer commitments during periods of rising prices. This adds an extra layer of difficulty for Samsung’s mobile division, already grappling with increasing spending on application processors.
This situation further increases the importance of Micron, which supplies a significant portion of the mobile DRAM for the Galaxy S25 series, to Samsung’s flagship portfolio.
Samsung’s DS unit is also advancing its next-generation LPDDR6 technology, expected to offer higher bandwidth and improved efficiency. Early indications suggest the company may showcase this technology at CES 2026, but commercial deployment may occur later. Meanwhile, internal adoption of the Exynos 2600 remains limited, further tightening the mobile division’s budget during memory supply negotiations.
With the Galaxy S26 scheduled for release in early 2026, the outcome of TM Roh’s meeting at CES is expected to determine how smoothly Samsung can secure DRAM supplies for its next flagship. While the company has refrained from commenting on its memory plans, the urgency of the negotiations underscores the broader industry pressure caused by increasing demand and limited production capacity.
