Samsung’s QLC 9th-Gen V-NAND Production Marks a Milestone for the AI Era

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has begun mass production of its one-terabit quad-level cell 9th-generation vertical NAND, solidifying its position as a leader in the high-capacity, high-performance NAND flash market and aiming to expand its application to various products.

Mass production of one-terabit quad-level cell (QLC) 9th-generation vertical NAND (V-NAND) solidifies Samsung's position as a leader in high-capacity, high-performance NAND flash market.
Expansion of QLC 9th-generation V-NAND to various applications, including branded consumer products, mobile Universal Flash Storage (UFS), PCs, and server SSDs for cloud service providers.
Incorporation of technological breakthroughs such as Channel Hole Etching, Designed Mold, Predictive Program, and Low-Power Design, resulting in higher bit density, improved data retention performance, enhanced speed, and reduced power consumption.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the global leader in advanced memory technology, has announced the start of mass production for its one-terabit (Tb) quad-level cell (QLC) 9th-generation vertical NAND (V-NAND). This achievement follows the successful mass production of the industry’s first triple-level cell (TLC) 9th-generation V-NAND earlier this year, further solidifying Samsung’s position in the high-capacity, high-performance NAND flash market.

SungHoi Hur, Executive Vice President and Head of Flash Product & Technology at Samsung Electronics, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating, “Kicking off the successful mass production of QLC 9th-generation V-NAND just four months after the TLC version allows us to offer a full lineup of advanced SSD solutions that address the needs for the AI era.” With the enterprise SSD market experiencing rapid growth and increased demand for AI applications, Samsung aims to maintain its leadership in this segment through its QLC and TLC 9th-generation V-NAND.

Samsung plans to expand the application of the QLC 9th-generation V-NAND, initially focusing on branded consumer products and later extending to mobile Universal Flash Storage (UFS), PCs, and server SSDs for cloud service providers.

The QLC 9th-generation V-NAND incorporates several technological breakthroughs:

1. Samsung’s Channel Hole Etching technology enables the highest layer count in the industry, thanks to a double stack structure. Leveraging expertise gained from the TLC 9th-generation V-NAND, the cells’ area and peripheral circuits have been optimized, resulting in an industry-leading bit density approximately 86% higher than the previous generation QLC V-NAND.

2. The Designed Mold technology adjusts the spacing of Word Lines (WL), which operate the cells, ensuring uniformity and optimization of cell characteristics across and within layers. As V-NAND layer counts increase, these traits become increasingly important. The adoption of Designed Mold has improved data retention performance by approximately 20% compared to previous versions, enhancing product reliability.

3. Predictive Program technology anticipates and controls cell state changes to minimize unnecessary actions. Through advancements in this technology, Samsung’s QLC 9th-generation V-NAND has doubled write performance and improved data input/output speed by 60%.

4. Low-Power Design technology has reduced data read and write power consumption by about 30% and 50% respectively. By reducing the voltage that drives NAND cells and sensing only the necessary bit lines (BL), power consumption is minimized.

With these innovations, Samsung’s QLC 9th-generation V-NAND sets a new standard in the industry, offering higher bit density, improved data retention performance, enhanced speed, and reduced power consumption.

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Background Information

About Samsung: Samsung, a South Korean multinational conglomerate, has established itself as a global leader in various industries, including electronics, technology, and more. Founded in 1938, Samsung's influence spans from smartphones and consumer electronics to semiconductors and home appliances. With a commitment to innovation, Samsung has contributed products like the Galaxy series of smartphones, QLED TVs, and SSDs that have revolutionized the way we live and work.

Technology Explained

NAND: NAND technology is a type of non-volatile memory that is used in many computer applications. It is a type of flash memory that is used to store data in a non-volatile manner, meaning that the data is not lost when the power is turned off. NAND technology is used in many computer applications, such as solid-state drives, USB flash drives, digital cameras, and memory cards. It is also used in many embedded systems, such as cell phones, tablets, and other consumer electronics. NAND technology is a reliable and cost-effective way to store data, making it a popular choice for many computer applications.

SSD: A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a modern data storage device that employs flash memory technology to store data electronically. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This leads to quicker boot times, faster application loading, and smoother overall system performance. SSDs are known for their durability, shock resistance, and energy efficiency, making them ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and other portable devices. They come in various form factors, including 2.5-inch, M.2, and PCIe cards, and are favored for their reliability, quiet operation, and reduced heat generation