[News] Samsung, Micron Rumored to Exit MLC, Driving Price Hikes and Order Surge for Taiwanese Suppliers

Samsung is reportedly pulling out of the MLC NAND flash market—and Micron might be next. According to Liberty Times, both memory giants are shifting away from low-capacity MLC products, sparking price hikes and a surge in orders for Taiwanese suppliers.

While neither company has confirmed its exit, TrendForce observes shrinking profitability is pushing the industry toward more lucrative TLC and QLC options.

TrendForce notes that MLC demand remains steady, but shrinking supply is triggering a market scramble. Attention is now on Chinese and Taiwanese vendors to see who can step in and fill the gap.

Liberty Times reveals that Samsung began preparing for the exit in late 2024, with final orders accepted through June. Though shipment timelines remain unclear, pricing has reportedly been rising month by month in 2025. According to The Elec, customers who relied on Samsung’s MLC NAND, including LG Display, are now seeking alternative suppliers. Now, speculation is swirling that Micron will follow suit.

As highlighted by New Daily, MLC NAND, once mainstream in the 2000s, stores 2 bits per cell but now lags in cost competitiveness and has limited use. As the market pivots from TLC to QLC for higher density and efficiency, only Samsung, SK hynix (including Solidigm), and Micron are currently capable of mass-producing QLC, the report suggests.

Meanwhile, Chinese players are quickly advancing, as venders are rumored to be capable of producing 270-layer, 1Tb TLC chips, New Daily notes.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Reportedly to End MLC NAND Shipments for Consumers by June, Shift to Automotive

(Photo credit: Micron)