Samsung reportedly offered HBM4 at a mid-to-high $4 per gigabit price in negotiations for 2027 annual supply, compared with about $1.50 per gigabit for HBM3E. That is the basis for Maeil Business Newspaper’s “more than three times” comparison—not a confirmed contract price, and not evidence that customers accepted the offer.
What Samsung reportedly quoted—and what remains unsettled
Maeil Business Newspaper (MK) reported on 2 October 2026 that Samsung was offering HBM4 in the mid-to-high $4-per-gigabit range during annual supply negotiations with major customers for 2027. The same report put the then-current HBM3E price at around $1.50 per gigabit and characterized the HBM4 offer as more than three times higher. MK attributed the figures to unnamed semiconductor-industry sources; it did not identify the customers or cite a Samsung representative confirming the proposed price. Read MK’s report.
The distinction between an offer and a signed price matters. MK described negotiations as underway and expected to conclude during October 2026. Its report does not establish a final HBM4 price, a customer response, or whether every customer received the same terms. The comparison is about reported prices per gigabit in supply negotiations, not consumer retail prices.
Why HBM4 is a different product generation
HBM4 is high-bandwidth memory intended for demanding computing systems, including AI infrastructure. Samsung announced on 12 February 2026 that it had begun mass production and commercial shipments of HBM4. That confirms the product had reached commercial shipment by that date; it does not confirm the later reported negotiation price.
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Samsung’s published specifications describe HBM4 as a substantial technical step from HBM3E. The company says it adopted 1c DRAM and a 4nm logic process for HBM4. Its figures are company-published claims, not independent test results in the available reporting.
| Measure | Samsung’s published HBM4 information | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer speed | 11.7 Gbps consistent speed; up to 13 Gbps | Samsung specification, announced 12 February 2026 |
| Bandwidth | Up to 3.3 TB/s per stack (3,300 GB/s) | Samsung specification, announced 12 February 2026 |
| Capacity | 24–36 GB with 12-layer stacking; up to 48 GB with planned 16-layer stacking | Samsung specification; 16-layer configuration was described as planned |
| Power and thermal performance | Approximately 40% better power efficiency, 10% better thermal resistance, and 30% better heat dissipation versus HBM3E | Samsung’s comparisons; no independent validation is established here |
Those capabilities help explain why HBM4 may command a premium, but specifications alone cannot show whether a particular negotiated price is justified or what customers will ultimately pay. Samsung says detailed specifications are available through its regional sales representatives. See Samsung’s HBM4 announcement.
Does the quote prove Samsung is leveraging broader DRAM prices?
No. The reported figures concern HBM supply negotiations: a specialized memory product sold through annual supply arrangements. They do not establish that Samsung set the proposed HBM4 price in response to a broad DRAM pricing index, nor that commodity DRAM prices caused the offer. Describing the report as proof that Samsung is “squeezing” customers goes beyond what it documents: the available account does not establish coercion, customer acceptance, or the final commercial terms.
There is older market context, but it is not confirmation of this quote. In an outlook published 15 August 2025, TrendForce expected HBM4 to carry a premium over HBM3E because of higher technical barriers and costs, while also forecasting downward pressure on HBM3E contract prices in 2026. That forecast predates the reported negotiations for 2027 and cannot validate Samsung’s reported offer. Read TrendForce’s August 2025 HBM market bulletin.
What to watch for next
The key test of the “3×” headline is whether a later, attributable disclosure confirms a signed 2027 supply price. Until one does, the mid-to-high $4 figure should be treated as a reported offer in negotiations, not an established market price. The cited reporting also leaves the customers and their reactions unnamed.
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