Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC), a prominent Chinese memory manufacturer, has achieved a milestone with its Zhitai brand, overtaking Samsung Electronics in solid-state drive (SSD) sales on domestic e-commerce platforms for the first time. This marks a pivotal shift in the Chinese SSD market, historically dominated by foreign players.
During the 2024 Singles' Day shopping festival, YMTC's Zhitai brand topped JD.com's SSD rankings, leading in both sales volume and transaction value. The Zhitai TiPlus 7100 emerged as the platform's best-selling SSD model.
The Zhitai TiPlus 7100 2TB, praised as an "all-round warrior" by the Chinese e-commerce site Smzdm.com, has become one of JD.com's most popular SSDs, serving millions of users since its release.
Powered by YMTC's proprietary NAND flash and Xtacking technology, the TiPlus 7100 achieves a single-chip interface speed of 2400 MT/s, enabling sustained high-speed performance. One customer review noted, "For a gaming enthusiast like myself, it's an ideal choice."
To ensure compatibility in SSD installations, the company designed the TiPlus 7100 with a single-sided PCB layout, promoting even heat distribution. This design overcomes the challenges of dual-sided PCB layouts, which concentrate heat and limit installation in compact spaces like laptops or the PS5. Advanced thermal and power management systems further optimize performance by reducing heat and power consumption.
Market dynamics shift
The Chinese SSD market, traditionally dominated by foreign brands, witnessed a major shake-up this year. Zhitai overtook Samsung for the top spot, while other domestic brands like Lenovo and Lexar, along with Taiwan's Acer Predator, secured positions in the top ten.
While Singles' Day SSD rankings were previously led by established brands like Samsung and Western Digital, YMTC's Zhitai has captured consumers' attention within just four years, reflecting growing confidence in Chinese domestic brands.
Innovation drives growth
YMTC continues to gain momentum in the retail market and has also made significant inroads into gaming, becoming the official partner of the Chinese blockbuster game Black Myth: Wukong.
Chinese memory module specialist Longsys has surpassed 100 million units in shipments of its self-developed SLC NAND flash, further solidifying its position in the market.
Longsys now offers five capacities in its SLC NAND flash lineup—512Mb, 1Gb, 2Gb, 4Gb, and 8Gb—all mass-produced using advanced 4xnm and 2xnm process technologies.
In early 2024, Longsys unveiled 2Gbit SPI NAND flash products built on a 2xnm process. It also expanded its MCP portfolio by integrating SLC NAND with LPDDR dies, introducing LPDDR4x-based MCPs now in limited production alongside LPDDR2 versions.
Longsys focuses on smaller-capacity memory solutions tailored for networking, security surveillance, IoT, portable devices, industrial equipment, and automotive applications.
Samsung faces mounting challenges
Samsung is grappling with challenges across semiconductors, smartphones, and consumer electronics. In the SSD market, it has been outpaced by Chinese brands like YMTC's Zhitai on platforms such as JD.com, underscoring rising competition.
In the semiconductor sector, Samsung lags behind TSMC and SK Hynix in the AI chip market, falling short of meeting the demand for high-bandwidth memory chips, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In the global smartphone market, Samsung and Apple continue to compete closely, with both brands holding significant shares. Recent trends indicate a shift in consumer preferences, as Apple narrows the gap with Samsung, reflecting intensified competition in the premium segment, per Canalys.
Delays in receiving ASML equipment for Samsung's US$17 billion Texas chip plant have hampered its contract manufacturing plans, with a lack of major customers further complicating the project, Reuters reports.
These setbacks highlight the urgent need for Samsung to innovate and recalibrate its strategies to remain competitive amid shifting market dynamics.
