Samsung introduces LPDDR5 uMCP that brings flash and RAM on the same chip
Samsung introduced its latest memory solution today, called LPDDR5 UFS-based multichip package, or uMCP. It integrates LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 NAND flash on a single chip, which promises to deliver flagship-level performance on a smartphone with a mid-range chipset.
Samsung’s LPDDR5 uMCP will enable consumers to “enjoy uninterrupted streaming, gaming, and mixed reality experiences even in lower-tier devices”, said Young-soo Sohn, VP of the Memory Product Planning Team at Samsung.
Beyond the fancy PR talk, the chip will allow manufacturers to make their phones cheaper and faster due to the simplified internal architecture. Samsung has quoted 50% increase in DRAM performance – from 17 GB/s to 25 GB/s, while NAND flash performance is doubled from 1.5 GB/s to 3 GB/s, compared with LPDDR4H-based UFS 2.2 storage.
The chip will measure only 11.5 x 13 mm, making more space for other internals. Samsung will be able to adapt different capacities, based on manufacturer requirements – the DRAM can be anywhere between 6GB and 12GB, while storage will range from 128GB to 512GB.
Tests with several smartphone manufacturers have been completed and Samsung expects to see phones with uMCP as early as this month.
