{
  "id": 19160972,
  "title": "Memory shortage spurs smartphone makers to melt used memory off old devices, then re-solder it onto new products",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/memory-shortage-spurs-smartphone-makers-to-melt-used-memory-off-old",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-09T13:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Hardware",
    "slug": "tom-s-hardware",
    "url": "https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/dram/memory-shortage-spurs-smartphone-makers-to-melt-used-memory-off-old-devices-then-re-solder-it-onto-new-products-recycled-memory-to-keep-budget-phones-affordable-reballing-adoption-to-double-by-2027"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As memory prices soar, smartphone manufacturers are turning to repurposed memory chips salvaged from used devices. According to market research by TrendForce, around 3–4% of smartphones currently incorporate reclaimed memory, a figure predicted to climb to 7–9% by 2027. This reclaimed memory, known as \"reballed,\" involves melting the solder balls on a memory chip, removing the chip from the old device, and then re-soldering it onto a new device. This process allows the component to be reused rather than discarded, presenting manufacturers with a cost-effective alternative to sourcing new memory chips.\n\nReballed 4GB LPDDR4X memory modules dominate the market, found in budget 4G smartphones priced under CNY 1,299 ($200). This tactic is crucial for smartphone makers as consumers are highly sensitive to price hikes in the budget segment, limiting the ability to raise retail prices without reducing demand. As DRAM prices are set to rise further in 2027, reballed memory and other lower-specification components may extend beyond entry-level devices to more premium smartphones as a broader strategy for expense management.\n\nThe need to control costs is also driving PC enthusiasts and hardware hobbyists to explore unconventional methods to reuse existing DRAM chips. For instance, a hobbyist converted a $120 DDR5 SO-DIMM kit into a desktop memory kit valued at $1,000 by reballing chips onto custom desktop DIMM PCBs, achieving DDR5-7800 speeds. While technically challenging due to the intricate nature of modern BGA packages, these developments showcase how manufacturers, repair specialists, and hardware enthusiasts are seeking alternatives to mitigate rising memory costs and limited availability.",
  "summary": "Reballed memory currently accounts for a small share of smartphone components, but adoption could nearly double by 2027 as manufacturers look for alternatives to increasingly expensive DRAM.",
  "key_points": [
    "Smartphone manufacturers use reclaimed memory chips, a practice expected to rise to 7-9% by 2027.",
    "Cost-effective solution for budget 4G smartphones under CNY 1,299 ($200) as DRAM prices rise."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}