SanDisk Unveils Plan to Launch 512TB SSDs by 2027

SanDisk, a subsidiary of Western Digital, has announced plans to release solid-state drives (SSDs) with an unprecedented capacity of up to 512TB by 2027. This achievement will be driven by cutting-edge Ultra QLC technology and the newly developed BiCS8 QLC NAND memory, which offers a storage density of up to 256GB per chip.

According to the roadmap presented at a recent investor event, SanDisk aims to begin shipping 128TB SSDs as early as Q3 2024. The company then plans to roll out 256TB models in 2026, with 512TB versions expected to hit the market in 2027. Additionally, SanDisk has hinted at the possibility of a future 1PB (1000TB) SSD, though no specific timeline has been provided.

The foundation of these new SSDs will be the Ultra QLC platform, which integrates BiCS8 QLC NAND memory with an enterprise-grade controller. This controller is capable of managing up to 64 chips per channel, enabling massive storage capacities. Achieving 512TB SSDs will require 32 channels, far surpassing the capabilities of modern consumer SSDs, which are typically limited to just 8 channels.

SanDisk’s plans are highly ambitious, especially when compared to traditional hard drives (HDDs), which are only now approaching the 40TB mark. However, given the rapid advancements in storage technology, the company remains confident in its ability to deliver on these goals. The only question that remains is how soon these ultra-high-capacity SSDs will reach the mainstream market.