Samsung, which has been struggling to catch up in the AI memory market, has finally received some good news. (According to Bloomberg News)ReportSamsung is close to obtaining certification from NVIDIA for its latest generation of high-bandwidth memory, HBM4. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Samsung has entered the final verification stage, and if successful, it could significantly narrow the gap with competitor SK Hynix.
Samples were sent last September, and HBM4 became the key to the turnaround.
The report indicates that Samsung's headquarters in Suwon had already provided NVIDIA with initial samples of HBM4 for testing as early as September of last year. After several months of tuning and verification, it is now in its final stages.
For NVIDIA, HBM high-bandwidth memory is a key component driving the performance of its AI accelerators. With the surge in bandwidth and capacity demands from next-generation GPU architectures, a stable supply of HBM4 is crucial.
Resisting SK Hynix's Dominance
Over the past two years, SK Hynix has almost monopolized NVIDIA's high-end memory orders thanks to its leading position in HBM3 and HBM3E, causing its stock price to soar. In contrast, Samsung has repeatedly encountered problems with yield and heat dissipation issues in HBM3E, resulting in a decline in both its stock price and market share.
This progress on HBM4 is a "battle that Samsung cannot afford to lose." If it can pass certification before or at the same time as its competitors, Samsung will be able to regain its core position in the AI supply chain and no longer let SK Hynix have all the credit.
Analysis of viewpoints
HBM4 is seen as a "reshuffling" of the memory industry. Unlike HBM3E, which was merely an optimization of the number of stacked layers and speed, HBM4 changed the logic chip (base die) to adopt a more advanced process (such as TSMC's 12nm or 5nm), which gave Samsung, with its strong logic chip manufacturing capabilities, room to maneuver.
If Samsung can successfully pass HBM4 certification, it will be great news for the entire AI industry. Currently, the severe shortage of HBM production capacity is one of the biggest bottlenecks restricting AI chip shipments. If a second supplier can provide a stable and high-quality supply, it will not only alleviate the shortage but also give NVIDIA more leverage in negotiations.
However, certification is only the first step; the real test lies in achieving high yield rates and achieving mass production capabilities. It's worth noting that Samsung has previously been rumored to be "about to pass" HBM3E certification, but the actual mass production timeline has been repeatedly delayed. Whether HBM4 can be Samsung's game-changer will be crucial to observing the first half of 2026.
