- Invisible radar a boost for defence
- Lighting event part of Sydney’s Vivid
- RF switches for an array of applications
- Is a legal dispute with Apple costing chip maker Qualcomm?
TLC NAND flash will account for nearly half of the total NAND flash memory output of the fourth quarter of 2015.
This growth of TLC NAND flash is attributed to its applications shifting from memory cards and USB drives, to OEM storage devices such as eMMC/eMCP and SSD, with manufacturers launching their TLC-based storage solutions this year.
Previously, TLC NAND flash was used mostly in memory cards, USB drives and external devices, due to the low cost. However, Samsung disrupted the market in 2013 by introducing TLC into its eMMC/eCMP and SSD products.
Competitors, seeing Samsung’s market share gains in 2014, were pushed to develop TLC-based embedded products as well.
Advancements in controller chips have resolved prior problems with TLC, such as performance issues and slow read/write speed. This means TLC NAND flash is increasingly used in phones, tablets and other consumer electronics. The low price of the technology itself, with TLC costing around 85% of MLC NAND flash, has also prompted increasing adoption.
In 2014, the iPhone 6/6 Plus hand set started using TLC NAND flash, signalling a shift of the technology from mid-level to upscale. Apple also decided to equip the Macbook Pro/Air series with solid-state drives after 2013, opening up opportunities for TLC NAND in the PC market.