AI TRENDS | DigiTimes: HBM4 Prices May Rise to $4–$5+ per Kilobit in Late 2026

What happened

DigiTimes reports that next‑generation HBM4 memory prices could rise from about $2 per kilobit to $4–$5 or higher in the second half of 2026.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Higher HBM4 costs will increase expenses for AI chip makers that need this high‑bandwidth memory, potentially slowing AI hardware rollout and squeezing profit margins.

Analyst inference

AI workloads are driving strong demand for HBM, while its production uses roughly three times the wafer space of standard DDR5 DRAM, creating a structural capacity bottleneck that can push prices upward.

Confirmed

What to watch

1. Official price announcements from HBM4 suppliers later in 2026, which will confirm whether the projected $4–$5 per kilobit range materializes. Proposed
2. Changes in HBM4 manufacturing yields, because higher yields could ease supply constraints and limit further price spikes. Proposed
3. Investments in new wafer fab capacity dedicated to HBM, since expanding production lines would increase supply and could moderate price growth. Proposed

Evidence

• binance.com