SK hynix to breakthrough 321-layered NAND chips in 2025

SK hynix's 321-layered NAND flash memory chip [SK HYNIX]

 
SK hynix will begin mass production of the world's highest 321-layered NAND flash memory chips from the first half of 2025, continuing to spearhead the NAND market with advanced technology in the face of a booming AI market. 
 
The Korean memory chipmaker unveiled the sample of the 321-layered NAND flash chip at the Flash Memory Summit 2023 which kicked off its three-day run in Santa Clara, U.S. on Tuesday.
 
It is the first time any chipmaker has revealed a specific timeline of more than 300-layered NAND products.
 
The sample SK hynix showed at the summit is a 321-layered TLC 4D NAND flash with 1-terabyte capacity.
 
TLC or triple-level cells refers to chip-making technology designed to store 3 bits per cell, which means lower cost and increased capacity compared to single-level cells.  
 
"The company will fortify its leadership in NAND technology with the development of fifth generation 321-layered 4D NAND," said Choi Jung-dal, head of NAND development at SK hynix, at the summit during his keynote speech. 
 
"We are going to showcase high-performance, high-capacity NAND to the market in response to the AI era."
 
The 321-layered NAND boasts upgraded productivity which rose by 59 percent compared to the 238-layered 512-gigabyte NAND which the Korean chipmaker started mass production for the first time in the world back in May. 
 
SK hynix is ahead in terms of the number of layers compared to rivals as Samsung Electronics is currently mass producing 236-layered NAND and Micron 232-layered.
 
The NAND market, however, is yet to recover from a supply glut. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix said in their respective conference calls last month they would additionally cut production of NAND in the second half.
 
SK hynix stands in the fourth spot in the global NAND flash memory chip market with a 16.8 percent share, according to market tracker Omdia. Samsung tops the list, followed by Kioxia and Western Digital.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]