Why is it important: It appears that the post-lockdown hardware industry hangover will last for some time, and this will lead to further drops in the prices of DRAM and NAND chips in the coming months. Memory manufacturers are still struggling to address oversupply issues, so DDR4 memory and SSDs may soon become more affordable for gamers on a budget.

Back in March, we learned that by the end of 2022, the global DRAM market revenue had hit a 2008 low. This has prompted companies such as SK Hynix, Micron, Nanya and others to speed up their layoff plans and look for ways to cut manufacturing costs. Market leader Samsung’s profits have all but evaporated in recent months as demand for memory chips has remained low and many people have limited their spending on PC and phone upgrades.

SK Hynix, which supplies Apple’s memory chips, believes that $160 billion the global memory industry should gradually recover in the second half of this year, helped by China’s recovery and the generative AI race. Samsung is also optimistic, but at the same time it has made the rare decision to cut memory production to a “meaningful level”, hoping to correct the oversupply problem and prevent further price drops.

This has had little effect on OEM stock, but it looks like the memory market hasn’t bottomed out yet. In accordance with Trendforce Analysts expect the average selling price of DRAM products to drop by 13-18 percent by the end of June. NAND memory prices are expected to fall by 8-13%.

Zooming in, we see that PC makers still have ample supply of DDR4 memory, and this is an area where we could see significant discounts in the coming months. It’s a different story with DDR5, as supplies are much more limited, in no small part due to PMIC compatibility issues. Overall, the average PC DRAM price could drop by 15-20%, which is great news for PC builders.

Read also: DDR4 vs DDR5: The best memory for PC gaming

Smartphone makers have done a better job of cleaning up excess memory inventory, but they are using the context of low consumer demand for phone upgrades to negotiate lower prices for new DRAM and NAND orders. This is expected to result in price cuts of 13-18% for mobile DRAM and 10-15% for UFS chips.

China’s slow recovery and overall slowdown in server demand has fueled an oversupply of enterprise SSDs, meaning the average selling price will drop by up to 15 percent in the coming months. The same is true for consumer SSDs, and we’ve already seen this reflected in prices for both PCs and consoles.

However, companies such as Fison believe that there is not much room for further price cuts, and that some SSD manufacturers could go bankrupt if they decide to sell devices below cost while demand remains low.

Head credit: Andrey Matveev

These new interfaces are a notable development that could change the way we experience virtual reality. Smell is a powerful sense and a necessary condition for our mouth to taste. The possibilities range from the obvious – sniffing a virtual flower field or inhaling food in virtual reality – to some less obvious applications. For example, perfume shops can test fragrances virtually.

From a medical point of view, virtual reality with smell can be beneficial for people who suffer from anosmia, or the inability to smell, according to Yu. Scents can also be therapeutic for patients with memory problems and may even help with mood. Yu told me that he felt happier when he used the smell of green tea in his tests. He realized that the smell was nostalgic: “When I was little, I had green tea flavored chocolate,” he recalled. “I still remember taking the wrapper off and loving the smell.”

These new interfaces stand out because they are lightweight, small and wireless. While the device hasn’t been tested directly with a VR game, platform, or specific device, the fact that it can be used without clunky wires should mean less confusion, less bulk, and a more immersive experience.

One disadvantage is that interfaces remain limited in scope. Yu used 30 different fragrances chosen for their distinctive, recognizable scents such as rosemary and durian. But many real life scents are less memorable and may not be as recognizable. Additionally, the miniature scent generators have yet to be programmed to work seamlessly with existing VR headsets. “It’s hard to say how this will work in a commercial interface,” says Brooks.

Yu says the next steps involve testing the mechanisms for releasing fragrances at the right time. He also wants to start using what he’s learned about smells when figuring out how to get the button into VR. Perhaps one day he will be able to repeat the experience of biting into a green tea-flavoured chocolate candy.