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Samsung Electronics has reached the final stage of certification for its sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, HBM4, and industry analysts are now watching Nvidia for a potential year-end approval, according to a report by The Korea Herald.

The report, citing industry sources, stated that Samsung has cleared production readiness approval for HBM4, which is considered the final internal checkpoint before full-scale manufacturing. The company is currently supplying HBM4 samples to major technology clients for quality evaluation, and analysts believe final verification could be completed within December.

Kim Dong-won, Head of Research at KB Securities, noted that Samsung has already provided HBM4 samples based on 1c DRAM technology paired with a 4-nanometer logic die to leading global tech companies. He said no defects or issues have been identified so far, adding that Samsung appears ready to meet both the performance requirements and volume demand from Google and Nvidia, increasing the possibility of approval before the end of the year.

Analysts forecast that HBM4 could surpass HBM3E in market share in the second half of 2026, once Google incorporates the technology in its eighth-generation TPU and Nvidia adopts it for its next-generation GPU lineup.

Nvidia’s upcoming AI processor, Rubin, planned for mass production in the latter half of 2025, will use eight HBM4 units, while Rubin Ultra, expected in 2027, will integrate 12 HBM4 modules, the report said.

Despite growing confidence, some experts remain cautious due to the complexity of HBM4. One industry official noted that delays remain possible, saying Samsung initially projected clearance for early 2026.

SK hynix has already secured supply contracts for Nvidia’s HBM demand. If Samsung receives approval this year and begins shipping in early 2026, analysts expect the company to narrow the competitive gap much faster than during the HBM3E cycle.

With the global memory market expected to shift rapidly from fifth-generation HBM3E to sixth-generation HBM4 next year, Samsung’s progress is seen as a significant driver of earnings. Analysts estimate the company’s operating profit could reach approximately 100 trillion won (USD 75 billion) in 2026, the highest in its history.

For this year, Samsung’s operating profit is projected at 40 trillion to 42 trillion won. Forecasts for 2026 range from 84 trillion won to 105 trillion won, according to analysts cited in the report. Consensus estimates stand at 384 trillion won in revenue and 80 trillion won in operating profit for 2026, with the semiconductor business alone expected to contribute 77 trillion to 93 trillion won.

Park Yu-ak of Kiwoom Securities has raised one of the most optimistic projections, increasing his 2026 profit estimate to 100 trillion won and pointing to a sharp increase in Samsung’s HBM4 market share along with a strong rebound in memory prices, which are expected to rise 56 percent.

Industry experts say Samsung’s restructuring of its memory division further strengthens its position. The company recently formed an integrated organisation for both DRAM and NAND flash development and merged its HBM team, originally set up in July 2024, into the unit.

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Samsung has also resumed construction of the P5 production plant at its Pyeongtaek Campus. The facility will manufacture advanced chips for high-performance computing applications, the report said.