Samsung Electronics is reasserting its dominance in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market with a bold pricing strategy, setting the supply price for next year’s HBM4 in the mid-to-high range of $4 per gigabit—more than triple the current flagship HBM3E’s price (approximately $1.50 per gigabit). The company has already commenced annual contract negotiations with key customers, positioning HBM4 as a premium offering. Samsung’s pricing confidence stems from its HBM4’s performance edge: the technology has consistently achieved a stable data transfer rate of 11.7Gbps, with peaks reaching 13Gbps—the industry’s highest. By capitalizing on its ability to supply high-specification products reliably, Samsung aims to command a price premium, reshaping the HBM market’s pricing dynamics through performance differentiation. The introduction of HBM4 signals a paradigm shift in the HBM market’s competitive logic, transitioning from scale-based rivalry to performance-driven differentiation. This strategic pivot aligns with the explosive growth in HBM demand, fueled by global AI infrastructure expansion, while supply growth remains constrained—a combination that bolsters Samsung’s aggressive pricing approach. Market research firms forecast that driven by HBM4’s rising adoption and persistent supply shortages, the average selling price of HBM will surge by 121% next year compared to 2023. The industry broadly anticipates sustained price hikes. As Samsung ramps up HBM4 production, the competitive landscape—previously dominated by SK Hynix—is set to intensify further. The HBM4 era will demand a holistic balance of performance, yield efficiency, and mass-production scalability. Whether Samsung can convert its technological edge into market share gains will be the defining narrative of the HBM sector in the coming year.