Samsung has begun mass producing the first three-dimensional (3D) V-NAND flash memory using 32 vertically stacked cell layers, which is its second generation V-NAND offering. Samsung’s 32-layer 3D V-NAND – also referred to as Vertical NAND – requires a higher level of design technology to stack the cell arrays than the previous 24-layer V-NAND, yet delivers a greater production efficiency because Samsung can use essentially the same equipment it used for production of the first generation V-NAND.

In addition, Samsung has just launched a line-up of premium SSDs based on its 2nd generation V-NAND flash memory with 128 gigabyte (GB), 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options.

Samsung says the new 3D V-NAND-based SSDs have approximately twice the endurance for writing data and consume 20 percent less power, compared to planar (2D) MLC NAND-based drives.

Later this year, Samsung will introduce additional premium 3D-based SSDs based on this 2nd generation V-NAND memory with even higher reliability and higher-density.