Last updated: June 4th, 2026 at 10:08 UTC+02:00
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It holds grip over nearly one-third of the global memory chip market.
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Samsung
Samsung is the world's largest DRAM (RAM) and NAND flash (storage) memory chip maker, and it maintained its undisputed leadership in the global market in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026. The latest data from Counterpoint Research confirms that Samsung controls nearly one-third of the global NAND flash market.
The latest market analysis report from Counterpoint Research reveals that Samsung held a 29% share of the global NAND flash storage chip market in Q1 2026. That puts Samsung comfortably ahead of its closest rivals: SK Hynix (18%), Kioxia (14%), Micron (13%), SanDisk (13%), and YMTC (13%).
Counterpoint Research
Samsung ranks number one in the global NAND flash storage chip segment in Q1 2026 according to Counterpoint Research – Source: Counterpoint Research
This is particularly impressive considering that revenue in the NAND flash market increased 3.5x year over year, driven by the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) boom. DRAM and NAND flash chips are critical components of AI infrastructure used by major technology firms such as Alphabet (Google), AMD, Intel, OpenAI, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), Microsoft, Nvidia, and others.
The report claims that server-oriented enterprise SSDs (eSSDs) accounted for 43% of the total NAND flash storage chip market in Q1 2026. Moreover, the eSSD segment's share is expected to exceed 60% of the total NAND flash market by the end of the year. Revenue from NAND flash chips in Q1 2026 was reportedly higher than the revenue generated during the entire year of 2023.
Asif is a computer engineer turned technology journalist. He has been using Samsung phones since 2004, and his current smartphone is the Galaxy S23 Ultra. He loves headphones, mechanical keyboards, and PC hardware. When not writing about technology, he likes watching crime and science fiction movies and TV shows.
