Samsung Fires First Shot in HBM4 Memory Race with Nvidia and AMD Shipments

Samsung Launches HBM4 Production

Samsung Electronics has announced it has begun mass-producing sixth-generation HBM4 memory chips, with shipments to major clients including Nvidia and AMD set to begin next month. The chips have achieved industry-leading data transfer speeds of 11.7 gigabits per second, surpassing the 10 gigabits per second benchmark originally set by industry leaders.

A Critical Qualification Victory

The announcement represents a potential turning point for Samsung, which has lagged behind rival SK Hynix in the high-bandwidth memory market that powers AI data centres. Samsung's HBM4 passed final qualification tests from both Nvidia and AMD without requiring any design modifications, a significant achievement given the heightened performance requirements from clients.

The company's HBM4 utilises sixth-generation 1c DRAM based on a 10-nanometre process, one generation ahead of competitors, and applies a 4-nanometre foundry process for the logic die. Power efficiency has reportedly improved by approximately 40 percent over the previous HBM3E generation.

The Race for AI Memory Dominance

Samsung's push into HBM4 comes as the company attempts to claw back market share from SK Hynix, which currently commands around 55 to 62 percent of the global HBM market compared to Samsung's 22 to 27 percent. SK Hynix reported record annual operating profit of 47.2 trillion won for 2025, surpassing Samsung Electronics' combined profit from its smartphone and home appliance divisions for the first time.

Analysts expect SK Hynix to capture approximately 70 percent of HBM4 orders for Nvidia's next-generation Rubin AI accelerators. Samsung's chips are expected to be used in Nvidia's Rubin platform performance demonstrations ahead of the GTC 2026 conference in March, with full-scale supply ramping around June.

Record Earnings Fuel Investment

Both South Korean semiconductor giants announced record quarterly results, with Samsung posting operating profit of 20.1 trillion won for the fourth quarter. The HBM market is forecast to grow by 58 percent to reach 54.6 billion dollars in 2026, with South Korean companies expected to capture roughly 80 percent of the global market.