Global MLC NAND capacity is projected to drop more than 40% year-over-year in 2026, as TLC and QLC SSDs gain dominance. This shift is driven by increasing demand from AI workloads. The change marks MLC's retreat to niche markets.
The solid-state drive (SSD) industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with multi-level cell (MLC) NAND technology fading into niche applications. According to recent analysis, TLC and QLC SSDs are set to become the dominant technologies, fueled by the ravenous appetite of AI applications for NAND storage.
Global MLC NAND capacity will decline over 40% year-over-year in 2026, reflecting broader trends in storage demands. As AI workloads proliferate, higher-density options like TLC (triple-level cell) and QLC (quad-level cell) are better suited to meet the needs for cost-effective, high-capacity storage. MLC, once a staple, is increasingly relegated to specialized uses where its balance of performance and endurance is still valued.
This evolution underscores the rapid pace of innovation in NAND flash memory. While PLC (penta-level cell) technology is on the horizon, it is unlikely to emerge until the era of petabyte-scale SSDs arrives. The focus on AI-driven demand highlights how computational advancements are reshaping hardware priorities, pushing manufacturers toward denser, more affordable solutions.
Experts note that this transition will influence data center designs and consumer electronics alike, ensuring scalability for machine learning tasks. The projections stem from industry forecasts, emphasizing the need for adaptable storage strategies in an AI-centric future.
