Micron launches 9th-gen QLC SSD with performance rivaling TLC drives

Published 26/06/2025, 14:14
© Reuters

BOISE, Idaho - Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), a prominent player in the semiconductor industry with a market capitalization of $142 billion, unveiled its new 2600 NVMe SSD on Thursday, featuring the industry’s first 9th-generation QLC NAND technology designed to deliver performance comparable to higher-tier TLC drives while maintaining QLC economics. According to InvestingPro data, the company’s strong financial health and impressive 71% year-over-year revenue growth underscore its innovative capabilities in the storage solutions market.

The new storage solution, aimed at OEM clients, incorporates Micron’s Adaptive Write Technology (AWT), which the company claims enables up to 63% faster sequential write and 49% faster random write speeds compared to competing value QLC and TLC SSDs. With a robust current ratio of 3.13 and moderate debt levels, Micron maintains the financial flexibility to continue investing in such cutting-edge technologies. (InvestingPro subscribers have access to 13 additional key insights about Micron’s financial strength and market position.)

"Micron’s unparalleled combination of high-performance G9 NAND and innovative Adaptive Write Technology unlocks the performance previously only considered possible with TLC drives," said Mark Montierth, corporate vice president and general manager of the Mobile and Client Business Unit at Micron Technology.

The company’s AWT technology implements a multi-tiered SLC, TLC, and QLC dynamic caching architecture to boost write performance, providing up to four times faster sequential write speeds while continuously writing up to 800GB of data to a 2TB SSD.

According to Micron, the 2600 SSD offers speeds up to 3.6 GB/s and achieved up to 44% better scoring and 43% better bandwidth versus competitive value TLC SSDs in PCMark 10 testing.

The drive is now shipping to OEMs globally in 22x30mm, 22x42mm, and 22x80mm form factors, with capacities ranging from 512GB to 2TB. The compact design options target various applications including handhelds, ultra-thin laptops, and workstations.

Industry partners including AMD, IBM, Intel, Phison, and Pure Storage provided statements supporting the launch, with several noting ongoing testing or integration plans for the new technology.

This announcement comes as storage performance becomes increasingly important for AI-driven applications and everyday computing tasks, with Micron positioning the 2600 SSD as a solution that can accelerate data access, reduce OS image installation time, and enhance system responsiveness.

The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Micron Technology.

In other recent news, Micron Technology has seen several analyst firms raise their price targets following strong earnings and optimistic future projections. Stifel increased its price target to $145, maintaining a Buy rating due to better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results and an encouraging fourth-quarter outlook. Baird raised its target to $200, citing accelerated gains in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market and highlighting Micron’s strategic position in high-growth segments like AI. Rosenblatt also set a $200 target, attributing its decision to Micron’s strong demand for DRAM products driven by artificial intelligence applications. Cantor Fitzgerald increased its target to $155, noting Micron’s August quarter guidance exceeded expectations with projected revenues of $10.7 billion. Additionally, Mizuho raised its target to $150, following the company’s strong quarterly results, and highlighted a 50% increase in HBM shipments quarter-over-quarter. Micron’s projected revenue for the August quarter stands at $10.7 billion, significantly above consensus estimates. The company also announced an increase in planned U.S. investment to $200 billion, up from a previous $170 billion, reflecting confidence in its future growth prospects.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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