[News] Memory Giants Split on HBM4 Strategy: Samsung HBM4 Sales Reportedly Tops $1B, SK hynix Slows Ramp

As memory giants accelerate their next-generation HBM race, Samsung Electronics has reportedly hit a key milestone. According to Yonhap News and ZDNet, its HBM4 has surpassed US$1 billion in revenue, making it the first product in the industry to reach the level just four months after entering mass production in February.

Yonhap News adds that based on projections through the end of June, Samsung’s HBM4 revenue is expected to exceed US$1.2 billion.

Building on this momentum, TrendForce notes that Samsung has leveraged its technical edge in HBM4 by adopting a 4nm FinFET process node for the base die. With its qualification timeline ahead of competitors, HBM4 shipment expectations have also been revised slightly upward, with full-year volume raised from 3.5B Gb to an estimated 4B Gb, according to TrendForce.

SK hynix Slows HBM4 Ramp

On the other hand, SK hynix appears to be taking a more measured approach to HBM expansion. According to Chosun Biz, with HBM already accounting for more than 40% of revenue, the company is prioritizing margin optimization over an aggressive capacity race.

The memory maker, as per Chosun Biz, is slowing the pace of its HBM4 production ramp-up as it shifts greater focus toward the tightening commodity DRAM market, where pricing conditions are seen as more favorable for near-term profitability. Notably, it is said to be dialing back the conversion of selected HBM3E production lines that had been earmarked for upgrade to HBM4 capacity.

As the report explains, with a strong foothold already established in the HBM market, SK hynix faces limited pressure to accelerate investment in HBM4 and HBM4E production. Instead of pushing further into next-generation HBM expansion, the company is increasingly prioritizing the commodity DRAM segment, where DRAM operating margins are projected by analysts to approach a theoretical peak of 90% within the year.

SK hynix has already been benefiting from stronger DRAM pricing momentum. The company reported a mid-60% increase in DRAM ASP in the first quarter and said it will focus on high-density server modules and mobile demand, according to Chosun Biz. Its three-year DDR5 supply agreement with Microsoft is also widely viewed as reinforcing long-term earnings visibility in the commodity DRAM segment, the report adds.

TrendForce notes that SK hynix’s HBM4 mass production timeline has been pushed back, with meaningful volume now expected to ramp in 3Q26. As a result, full-year HBM4 shipment outlook is seen revised downward from 4.5B Gb to 4B Gb.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Starts Shipping Industry-First HBM4E Samples 3 Months After HBM4 Ramp; Performance Up 20%+
• [News] SK hynix Ships 12-High HBM4E Samples, Boosts Bandwidth to 16Gbps and Power Efficiency by Over 20%

(Photo credit: Samsung)