DDR6 could more than double memory speeds, but don’t expect it soon


Work on DDR6 memory is already underway, but it’ll be a while before it shows up in your next PC.

According to reports, Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have all begun early development of the next-gen standard. They are quietly kicking off the process years ahead of any real-world launch.

Right now, the companies have shared early designs with substrate manufacturers, who are building prototypes and running verification tests. That’s typical for memory development. The groundwork often starts more than two years before anything becomes official. However, it also underlines just how early DDR6 still is.

The reason for the push is simple: speed. DDR6 is expected to more than double the data rates of DDR5, which currently tops out at around 8.4Gbps. That kind of jump would bring a noticeable boost to performance. This is especially true for demanding workloads such as AI, data centres and high-end computing, all of which are contributing to the current RAM shortage.

That said, hitting those speeds isn’t straightforward. Faster memory introduces new challenges around signal integrity and power efficiency, which is why manufacturers are working closely with partners earlier in the process. It’s not just about making RAM quicker; It has to remain stable and efficient at those higher data rates.

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If you’re hoping for a near-term upgrade, though, you’ll need to be patient. The JEDEC standards body hasn’t finalised the DDR6 specification yet, with key details like I/O configuration and physical design still being ironed out. Current timelines suggest mass production won’t begin until around 2028 or 2029, assuming everything stays on track.

There’s also the question of cost. The ongoing demand for AI hardware has already pushed memory prices up, and DDR6 — with its cutting-edge performance — is unlikely to be cheap when it first arrives. Some forecasts suggest prices could stabilise closer to 2027. This might soften the blow by the time DDR6 lands.

For now, DDR5 remains the dominant standard, especially in servers where it already accounts for the majority of shipments. DDR6 may promise a big leap forward, but it’s very much a long-term play rather than your next upgrade.



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Virtually every new SUV will depreciate in value over its life as the miles rack up and components start to wear out. However, some of them depreciate much faster than others. At one end of the spectrum, there are some models from the likes of Cadillac, Tesla, and Infiniti, all of which can lose close to two-thirds of their value after just half a decade on the road. That makes them some of the worst-depreciating SUVs on the market. At the other end, there are SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser.

The exact resale value of any used car will depend on factors like its trim, condition, and mileage, but on average, Land Cruiser owners can expect a higher trade-in value than most rivals will fetch. According to data from CarEdge, a new Land Cruiser can be expected to lose around 35% of its original value after five years on the road, assuming it covers around 13,500 miles annually.

Estimates from iSeeCars make for equally encouraging reading for Land Cruiser owners, with the outlet estimating that after five years, a new example will lose just 34.4% of its sticker price. Even after seven years on the road, iSeeCars estimates that the average Land Cruiser will still be worth a little over half of what buyers originally paid for it.

The Land Cruiser holds its value well

The estimate from iSeeCars puts the Land Cruiser slightly ahead of average for value retention in the large hybrid SUV segment, and significantly ahead of the overall market average for new SUVs. According to the same data, the average new SUV can expect to lose 44.9% of its value over the same period, over 10% more than the Land Cruiser. That said, a different Toyota SUV is forecast to retain even more of its value.

Since the 2025 model year, both the Land Cruiser and the 4Runner have shared their platform and hybrid powertrains. However, according to current estimates, the 4Runner is the clear winner when it comes to resale value. Data from iSeeCars forecasts that a new, non-hybrid 4Runner is likely to lose only 25.4% of its value after its first five years, and CarEdge predicts almost exactly the same figure. According to the former outlet, a hybrid 4Runner will lose slightly more of its value over the same timeframe, shedding 28.6% on average.

While the 4Runner is the better choice purely for value retention, that only forms part of the equation for most buyers. The Land Cruiser remains appealing thanks to its mix of off-road capability and on-road refinement, with even the base 2026 trim offering plenty of standard features, despite missing out on the luxuries that higher trims include.





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