Sandisk launches a 256 terabyte NVMe SSD, built on the new UltraQLC platform. The storage solution is suitable for hyperscale AI workloads.
At the Future Memory and Storage Event 2025, Sandisk presented an NVMe enterprise SSD with a capacity of 256 terabytes. The drive is built on the new UltraQLC platform, which SanDisk designed for AI-driven and data-intensive applications in hyperscale cloud environments. The SSD will be available in a U.2 format in the first half of 2026.
Custom Platform
As the platform’s name suggests, the SSD is built on quad-level cell NAND. This is a form of NAND where one cell can hold up to four bits of data. QLC is more efficient and compact, but generally slower than, for example, SLC, where one bit corresponds to one cell.
The UltraQLC SSD combines BiCS8 QLC NAND, custom controllers, and system optimizations to deliver high performance and energy efficiency. The SSD uses Direct Write QLC technology to avoid SLC buffering and introduces a 2 Tb QLC NAND chip that doubles storage density.
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The platform uses Dynamic Frequency Scaling to achieve up to ten percent more performance at the same energy consumption compared to previous models. Additionally, a new Data Retention profile limits the number of recycle cycles, which should increase the drive’s reliability and durability.
The 256 TB SSD was designed for AI data lakes and other large-scale applications where high throughput, low latency, and energy efficiency are crucial. A SN670 SSD with 128 terabyte storage capacity will also be available in early 2026.
Years of Development
The development of the UltraQLC platform began in 2021, when Sandisk decided to build a new enterprise architecture from scratch. A multidisciplinary team of hundreds of engineers worked on the project for four years. They learned from previous client and consumer products but deliberately distanced themselves from existing frameworks.
The decision to focus on ultra-high storage capacity came after it became clear that the storage demand of AI data centers is evolving towards exabytes of data. As a result, QLC SSDs are becoming a more attractive alternative to traditional hard drives.
According to Sandisk, the SSD is the result of new insights into storage architecture, including a redesign of I/O process management. The manufacturer is meanwhile working on a roadmap that should eventually lead to SSDs of 1 petabyte.