Samsung Challenges SK Hynix in HBM Market

The rivalry between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market is intensifying. Following SK Hynix's successful mass production of the fourth-generation HBM product, HBM3, Samsung is now planning to develop trial versions of the fifth-generation HBM products for its customers.

According to industry insiders cited by South Korean media outlet Chosun Biz, Samsung is making progress in developing its fifth-generation HBM products, namely HBM3P and HBM4. The company aims to provide trial versions of these products to customers such as NVIDIA and AMD as early as 2023.

As SK Hynix is currently the sole supplier of HBM3 products to NVIDIA, Samsung hopes to compete for market dominance with its HBM3P products and expand its presence among the electronic components industry.

The demand for large-scale AI services like ChatGPT has surged in recent times. Considering the need for AI systems to process vast amounts of data rapidly, HBM, with its data transfer speeds 7 to 10 times faster than DRAM, proves to be highly suitable for the AI field.

SK Hynix took the lead in global HBM development by introducing the first-generation HBM product in 2013. Presently, it is the only company worldwide that mass-produces HBM3 products, holding a leading position in the market. SK Hynix is reportedly preparing to invest in backend manufacturing equipment, and the next-generation HBM3E product is expected to be developed and mass-produced by 2024.

During Samsung's Q1 2023 earnings conference, the company announced that it is shipping samples of 16GB HBM3 and 24GB HBM3 with 12 layers, indicating its readiness for mass production. Additionally, Samsung is preparing for the next-generation HBM products, HBM3P, and HBM4.

Although Samsung has not disclosed specific performance details, it is speculated that the capacity and bandwidth of HBM3P and HBM4 will surpass SK Hynix's HBM3 products.

Of interest, Samsung has recently filed trademark applications for Snowbolt, Flamebolt, and Shinebolt, potentially hinting at the forthcoming launch of new HBM products. These trademarks are believed to become Samsung's HBM product brands, according to Korean experts.