Samsung V-NAND, new generation memory ready to break the competition

Samsung Electronics is currently developing its seventh generation V-NAND memory with ultra-high 3D memory stack technology. The first model will have at least 160 layers, and the next ones are expected to have even more in the future.

Samsung V-NAND: 7th generation technology with 160 layers

The Korean company has shown no signs of abandoning the technology initiative of YMTC (a Chinese competitor). Its first 160-layer V NAND model will be launched simultaneously with YMTC’s 128-layer model by the end of 2020, so the drums of war between the two companies are already echoing on the horizon.

Date	V-NAND
July 2013	1st generation (24-layer) 128Gb MLC V-NAND
August 2013	1st generation 128Gb MLC V-NAND 960GB SSD
August 2014	2nd generation (32-layer) 128Gb 3-bit V-NAND
September 2014	2nd generation V-NAND SSD
August 2015	3rd generation (48-layer) 256Gb 3-bit V-NAND
September 2015	3rd generation V-NAND SSD ‘850 EVO’, ‘950 PRO’
December 2016	4th generation (64-layer) 256Gb 3-bit V-NAND
January 2017	4th generation V-NAND SSD
January 2018	4th generation 512Gb V-NAND 30.72TB SAS SSD
May 2018	5th generation (9x-layer) 256Gb 3-bit V-NAND
June 2018	5th generation V-NAND SSD
June 2019	6th generation (1xx-layer) 256Gb 3-bit V-NAND
July 2019	6th generation V-NAND SSD

Samsung’s Ultra High 3D storage system is based on double-stack technology. This method creates electronic gaps at two different points in time to allow current to flow through the circuit. The current generation chips (96 layers) produce only one hole per cycle, so Samsung’s seventh-generation technology will increase its density by 67% compared to this. Their density could also be increased with other resources, such as by switching to more modern semiconductor nodes and 5-bit per cell (PLC) systems developed by KIOXIA.

Although we know that the first appearance on the market for Samsung’s seventh-generation technology is initially planned for the end of 2020, we do not yet have an introductory price ranges. There is also no news that the current coronavirus pandemic will lead to delays in the coming months, so we will have to wait for the next corporate statement for more news.