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Samsung is reportedly seeking a mid-to-high $4-per-gigabit price for HBM4 supplied next year, compared with about $1.50 per gigabit for HBM3E, according to Maeil Business as relayed by Newsquawk on October 2, 2026. Those figures describe a proposed negotiation price—not a signed contract, confirmed customer acceptance, or Samsung’s realized average selling price.

What the reported price comparison means

The reported comparison is on a per-gigabit basis: Samsung is said to be seeking a mid-to-high $4/Gb for HBM4, versus roughly $1.50/Gb for HBM3E. That makes the proposed HBM4 figure more than three times the HBM3E reference. It does not mean every HBM4 deal will close at that level, or that Samsung has publicly disclosed a final product price.

The underlying Maeil Business report was relayed by Newsquawk; its figures should therefore be treated as reported negotiating terms. A same-day Sammy Fans summary also characterizes the number as a proposal, not a completed sale. The reviewed reporting does not establish customer acceptance, final contract terms, or an average realized price.

Why Samsung may be asking more for HBM4

A higher-performance generation

Samsung’s February 2026 product announcement positions HBM4 as a substantial performance step over HBM3E. The company says its HBM4 offers 11.7 Gbps consistent processing speed, with enhancement up to 13 Gbps, and bandwidth of up to 3.3 terabytes per second per stack—2.7 times HBM3E. Those capabilities help explain the product’s positioning, but they do not independently verify the reported price.

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Capacity and physical configuration also matter when comparing memory generations. Samsung lists 24–36 GB for its 12-layer HBM4 stacks and says future 16-layer products are planned with capacity up to 48 GB. A per-gigabit quote should not be confused with the price of a complete stack or an accelerator that uses the memory.

Power and thermal characteristics

Samsung reports that HBM4 has 40% better power efficiency, 10% better thermal resistance, and 30% greater heat dissipation than HBM3E. These are company-reported comparisons, not independent test results. In dense AI systems, memory bandwidth, power use, and heat management can all affect product value; the announcement does not show how buyers weigh those factors in negotiations.

Qualification and supply affect the outcome

Reported customer acceptance depends on qualification results, available supply, and competitor pricing. A proposed price can be commercially viable only if customers validate the memory for their systems and suppliers can deliver the required quantities. The same-day Sammy Fans account describes these as factors in whether the proposed price is accepted.

How the reported ask fits wider HBM pricing forecasts

Other reports point to higher HBM prices broadly, but they are forecasts rather than confirmation of Samsung’s offer. In July 2026, Seoul Economic Daily reported a DigiTimes and industry-source forecast of HBM4 at $4–$5 or more per gigabit in 2027, from about $2/Gb in the second half of 2026; the same report put HBM3E at $1.50–$1.60/Gb. The English article notes that it is AI-translated. These market estimates provide context, not evidence of Samsung’s final contract price.

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Separately, Seoul Economic Daily reported on September 30 that TrendForce forecast average HBM selling prices to rise 121% in 2027. That is a market-wide forecast and does not establish what Samsung will charge for HBM4.

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What Samsung has said about its HBM business

Samsung’s February 12, 2026 announcement gives its own outlook: “Samsung anticipates that its HBM sales will more than triple in 2026 compared to 2025, and is proactively expanding its HBM4 production capacity.” This is a company projection, not a reported result or a price commitment. The announcement supplies technical specifications and a sales outlook, but does not confirm the reported HBM4 offer.

Later reporting offers additional, attributed context. Seoul Economic Daily said on September 20, 2026 that industry sources put Samsung’s HBM4 yield at around 80%, after it had been below 60% in early mass-production stages. The same report said Samsung projected third-quarter HBM4 revenue to exceed three times the previous quarter. The yield figure is attributed industry reporting rather than a company-verified disclosure, and the revenue figure is prospective.

How to assess the claim

For a meaningful comparison, keep the proposed price separate from the technical and commercial factors that can influence a deal:

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  • Price basis: compare per-gigabit figures with other per-gigabit figures—not with a whole stack or accelerator price.
  • Generation and capacity: account for whether the quote concerns HBM3E or HBM4 and for the stack’s capacity and layer count.
  • Performance: consider transfer speed and bandwidth alongside the price.
  • System characteristics: note the company-reported power and thermal comparisons, while recognizing they are not independent verification of value.
  • Commercial terms: distinguish an asking price from accepted contract pricing and realized average selling prices; qualification, supply availability, and competing offers can change the result.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.