Samsung Electronics Co. is in the final qualification stage with Nvidia Corp. for its sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4), designed for AI and high-performance computing applications. According to anonymous sources, Samsung submitted initial HBM4 samples to Nvidia in September of last year and has now advanced to the final certification phase. The certification process requires a company to demonstrate a substantial supply of memory capable of supporting Nvidia's AI accelerators.
To secure this certification and compete with rivals SK Hynix Inc. and Micron Technology Inc., Samsung plans to begin high-volume production of HBM4 in February 2026, with shipments expected to commence soon after, though an exact timeline is not yet finalized. The Korea Economic Daily reported that Samsung's shipments are destined for both Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
This development positions Samsung as a stronger competitor in the AI memory market, where it currently trails behind SK Hynix, Nvidia's primary supplier for cutting-edge memory chips. The news impacted stock prices, with Samsung's shares rising as much as 3.2% in Seoul trading before pulling back, while SK Hynix's stock declined by approximately 3.2%.
Analysts note that the overall market for HBM chips remains extremely tight. William Blair analyst Sebastien Naji, who initiated coverage on Micron with an Outperform rating, stated that Micron's 2026 HBM supply is already sold out. He expects Micron to maintain a market share in the low-20% range through 2027, with its HBM revenue projected to nearly quadruple to roughly $20 billion by 2027 due to high demand and superior profit margins.
The three leading memory chipmakers—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—have seen their combined market value surge by nearly $900 billion since early September, reflecting the intense demand driven by the AI boom. This demand is stretching industry capacity, creating shortages for standard memory and strengthening chipmakers' pricing power. Both Samsung and SK Hynix are scheduled to report earnings on January 29, where discussions on HBM4 progress are anticipated.
