2x Bigger
Samsung Electronics' share of the global SSD market is estimated to be twice that of Intel. The weight of solid state drives (SSDs) used in laptops and PCs is predicted to be 30 percent in 2015 and over 50 percent in 2017.
SSDs are storage devices that replace hard disc drives (HDDs) using NAND flash. SSDs can read and write data four times faster than HDDs, thereby drastically reducing the time needed for booting.
According to data released by market research firm IHS Technology on June 7, Samsung is expected to record US$4.571 billion in sales of SSDs this year, well ahead of Intel (US$2.25 billion) and Sandisk (US$2.2 billion).
The Korean tech giant comprises 35 percent of the market, and Intel and Sandisk 17 percent each. SK Hynix represents 2 percent, thus putting the firm in the top 10. Samsung's share is likely to reach 35 percent and 16 percent for Intel next year, and thus the gap between the two companies in the market is forecast to widen further.
Intel acquired chipmaker Altera for US$16.7 billion (18.5 trillion won) in the first week of June. The M&A deal was the largest-ever conducted by Intel. The world's largest semiconductor chip maker's move can be interpreted as part of its strategy to strengthen its cooperation-oriented data centers or the Internet of Things (IoT) business, rather than the declining PC industry.
SSDs are receiving a lot of attention for marketability, since they are used in data centers.
Samsung introduced 3-bit SSDs for the first time in 2013 and 3-bit products using V-NAND technology last year. The Korean firm is intensifying its efforts to target the market with ultra-high capacity SSDs this year, based on 3-generation V-NAND.