LPDDR5X memory delivers top-speed grades and dramatic power savings

Micron Technology, Inc. has announced it is shipping qualification samples of the world's first 1γ (1-gamma) node-based low-power double data rate 5X (LPDDR5X) memory, designed to accelerate AI applications on flagship smartphones. Delivering the industry's fastest LPDDR5X speed grade of 10.7Gbps, combined with up to 20% power savings, the company's LPDDR5X enables smartphones to provide faster, smoother mobile experiences and longer battery life – even when executing data-intensive workloads such as AI-powered translation or image generation.

To meet the industry's growing demand for compact solutions in next-generation smartphone designs, the company's engineers have reduced the LPDDR5X package size to offer the industry's thinnest package at 0.61mm, which is 6% thinner than competitive offerings and represents a 14% height reduction from the previous generation. The small form factor releases more possibilities for smartphone manufacturers to design ultrathin or foldable smartphones.

"Micron's 1-gamma node-based LPDDR5X memory is a game-changer for the mobile industry," said Mark Montierth, corporate vice president and general manager of Micron's Mobile and Client Business Unit. "This breakthrough technology delivers lightning-fast speeds and remarkable power efficiency – all within the industry's thinnest LPDDR5X package – paving the way for exciting new smartphone designs. This solution demonstrates our commitment to empowering the ecosystem to create extraordinary mobile experiences."

The company's 1γ-based LPDDR5X enables significant performance improvements for mobile users by facilitating faster AI insights. For example, it evaluated mobile AI response times from large language model Llama 2, based on 1γ LPDDR5X's 10.7Gbps bandwidth compared to 1β (1-beta) LPDDR5X's 7.5 Gbps bandwidth, finding:

• Responses are 30% faster when asking for location-based restaurant recommendations.
• Results are more than 50% faster when translating a voice inquiry in English to text in Spanish to ask for directions.
• Responses can be up to 25% faster when requesting car purchase recommendations based on vehicle type, affordability and certain infotainment and safety features.

Now ramping in the company's mobile portfolio, its 1γ-based LPDDR5X is the first mobile solution to leverage advanced EUV lithography – providing customers with early access to the latest performance and power efficiency advancementsbased on the industry's most advanced memory node technology. This milestone builds on its February sampling of 1γ-based DDR5 memory for next-generation CPUs in the data centre and client segments. The company's optimised 1γ DRAM node leverages CMOS7 advancements, such as next-generation high-K metal gate technology, for enhanced transistor performance and includes leading-edge EUV lithography for enhanced bit density.

The 1γ-based LPDDR5X's significant 20% power savings will enable mobile users to enjoy their favourite AI applications, games, and video content for longer on a single charge. In addition, as AI intensifies the need for powerful, energy-efficient compute, data centre servers, intelligent vehicles, and AI PCs may also increasingly adopt LPDDR5X for its unique blend of optimised power efficiency and high performance.