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SSD Brands Explained: How 50 Brands Exist When Only 5 Companies Actually Make Them
In This Issue
• Why 50 SSD brands exist when only 3-4 companies make the chips
• The three-layer model: Who actually makes what
• China’s YMTC: The wild card disrupting the NAND oligopoly
• What’s really inside your SSD
🏭 How It Actually Works
Understanding SSD Brands: The Three-Layer Model
The SSD industry is structured in three distinct layers, and understanding this explains why so many SSD brands can coexist.
Layer 1: NAND manufacturers (The real makers)
Only a handful of companies actually fabricate the NAND flash memory chips that store your data:
Samsung (South Korea): The largest NAND producer globally, supplying chips to countless SSD brands while also making their own SSDs.
SK Hynix (South Korea): Major supplier, acquired Intel’s NAND business in a two-phase deal (2021-2025).
Micron (USA): Makes NAND but recently announced the shutdown of its Crucial consumer brand (ending Feb 2026) to focus on enterprise and AI markets.
Kioxia/Western Digital (Japan, formerly Toshiba / USA): 20+ year joint venture operating shared fabs in Japan; Kioxia (formerly Toshiba) and WD co-develop and co-produce NAND together.
And increasingly, YMTC (China) – more on them in a moment.
Think of them as steel mills. They produce the raw material that everyone else assembles. These companies operate massive fabs requiring billions in investment, which is why new competitors rarely enter this space.
The three-layer model of SSD manufacturing
Layer 2: Controller Chip makers
NAND chips are like engines. Controllers are the transmission – they manage how data flows in and out, handle error correction, and determine real-world performance.
Three companies dominate this layer:
Phison (Taiwan) – Powers Kingston, Corsair, MSI, Patriot, Gigabyte, and dozens more
Silicon Motion (SMI) (Taiwan) – Common in ADATA, Team Group, and budget drives
Maxio (China) – Newer player, increasingly found in ultra-budget SSDs
Samsung makes its own controllers. WD uses in-house controllers from its SanDisk acquisition. But most SSD brands buy controllers off the shelf from Phison or SMI.
Think of it like Qualcomm selling Snapdragon chips to OnePlus, Xiaomi, and fifty other phone brands. Same controller, different brand name on the box.
Layer 3: Assembly and Brand layer
This is where it gets messy – and interesting.
SSD Brands like Samsung and WD are vertically integrated. They make NAND, design controllers, write firmware, and assemble everything under one roof. Full control, premium pricing.
But most SSD brands you see – Kingston, ADATA, etc – are ODMs (Original Design Manufacturers). They don’t make NAND or controllers. They:
- Buy NAND chips from Samsung/Micron/SK Hynix in bulk
- Buy controllers from Phison/SMI
- Assemble them in Taiwanese or Chinese factories
- Add their own firmware tuning and quality control
- Slap on their logo and warranty
Same NAND. Same controller. Different brand name. Different price.
🇨🇳 The Wild Card
YMTC: Disrupting the NAND oligopoly
For years, four companies controlled the global NAND supply. Then China decided it didn’t want to depend on foreign suppliers anymore. Enter YMTC (Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation), a state-backed Chinese company launched in 2016 with one goal: break the NAND oligopoly.
YMTC has gone from zero to producing competitive three-dimensional NAND in under a decade. They are now mass producing 270-layer 3D NAND technology, putting them technically close to Samsung and Micron’s. That’s a massive leap for a company that didn’t exist ten years ago.
What makes 270-Layer 3D NAND a big deal
First, what does “3D NAND” even mean?
2D Planar NAND vs 3D NAND architecture
Sources: Planar (2D NAND) | 3D NAND
Why layers matter: More layers = more storage in the same physical space. Think of it like this – a 270-layer chip fits 270 parking levels in the footprint of one flat lot.
Who uses YMTC NAND?
• Lexar (now Chinese-owned and heavily YMTC-based)
• HP, Acer, Lenovo (for their branded SSDs)
• Kingston, Team Group, ADATA (selectively, depending on market)
• In China: they sell under their own consumer brand – ZhiTai
Why YMTC matters for Indian buyers
Many budget SSDs now use YMTC NAND – often unlabeled. Quality is decent for everyday use, but:
⚠️ Long-term reliability data is limited (newer player)
⚠️ US export restrictions create pricing volatility
⚠️ SSD Brands rarely disclose YMTC sourcing
If you’re buying an ultra-budget drive from a lesser-known brand, there’s a good chance YMTC NAND is inside. Not necessarily bad – just know what you’re getting.
🔍 Under The Hood
What’s really inside your SSD?
Let’s decode India’s most popular budget SSD: the Kingston A400. It’s everywhere – bundled with laptops, recommended in budget builds. What’s actually inside:
Controller: Phison S11 (Taiwan)
NAND: Micron 3D TLC (USA/Singapore)
Assembly: Taiwan or China
Warranty/Support: Kingston (with India operations)
Kingston A400 internal component breakdown
There is a reason why tech reviewers often tear down SSDs and publish component lists. The label on the box tells you almost nothing. You need to know what’s inside to judge real value.
The kicker: SSD Brands swap components mid-production without changing model names. A Kingston NV2 from early 2024 might have Samsung NAND; late 2025 could have YMTC chips. Same box, different internals.
Before you go…
Now that you know your Kingston might contain Samsung or Micron NAND, the obvious question is: should you just buy Samsung-branded drives? Or is the ODM route smarter?
And the bigger question: when will SSD prices finally drop? Should you wait for the next oversupply cycle, or buy now?
We’ll tackle all of this in Issue #6 – including:
• How to verify components before buying
• When pricing will stabilize (and why it matters)
• A simple decision framework: OEM vs. ODM SSD brands
Hit reply and tell us:
Which SSD brand do you currently use?
Have you ever checked what’s actually inside using reviews or teardowns?
New to Tech Tomorrow? Read:
Issue #1: MikroTik hAP ax² Router Review & Small Business Cybersecurity Tips
Issue #2: Starlink in India, PoE Switch Guide & 5G Router Buying Tips
Issue #3: CCTV Storage Guide, AI Analytics & Tirumala Temple Case Study
Issue #4: WiFi 6E Finally Legal in India: Should You Upgrade?
More buying guide: 5G Router Buying Guide: Speed, Coverage & Which One to Buy in India
📦 What we’ve been up to: Over the past two weeks, we expanded our product lineup with two new SSD brands.
1. Lexar – NVMe SSDs, external drives, memory cards
2. Netac – SSDs and RAM modules
3. CP-Plus – Security cameras, DVRs, NVRs, and complete surveillance solutions
4. ASUS – WiFi 6 routers, mesh systems, gaming routers, and network adapters
Whether you’re upgrading storage, securing your premises, or building a high-speed network, we now have more trusted options to meet your tech needs. Take a look.
Freqently asked questions
Which SSD brands are most reliable?
Samsung, Western Digital, Kingston, and Crucial (discontinued Feb 2026) are tier-1 SSD brands with established track records. Samsung and WD are vertically integrated—they control their entire manufacturing process. Kingston and Crucial source from top-tier NAND makers (Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix) and use reputable controllers (Phison, SMI). All offer solid warranties and India service support.
Do all SSD brands use the same NAND chips?
No, but many do. Only 5 companies manufacture NAND globally: Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, Kioxia/WD, and YMTC. Most SSD brands source from these manufacturers, which means different brands often use identical NAND chips. For example, Kingston, ADATA, and Crucial might all use Samsung NAND in specific models. However, the controller, firmware, and quality control differ between brands.
Why is Samsung SSD more expensive than Kingston?
Samsung is vertically integrated—they make NAND, controllers, firmware, and assembly in-house. You're paying for: (1) Brand premium, (2) 5-year warranty vs. 3-year for most SSD brands, (3) Consistent component quality (no mid-production swaps), (4) Better firmware optimization, and (5) Stronger RMA/support infrastructure in India. For everyday use, the performance difference versus quality ODM brands like Kingston is often minimal.
Are Chinese SSD brands like Lexar safe to use?
Lexar (now Chinese-owned) uses YMTC NAND and is decent for everyday computing and gaming. However, long-term reliability data for YMTC is limited compared to Samsung/Micron (who have 20+ years of NAND manufacturing history). For mission-critical data, professional workloads, or servers, stick with established SSD brands using proven NAND sources. For general use, Lexar offers good value.
How can I find out which NAND is in my SSD?
Use CrystalDiskInfo (free Windows/Mac tool) to identify your controller model. For NAND details, check TechPowerUp's SSD database or search for teardown reviews on Tom's Hardware, AnandTech, or Reddit's r/NewMaxx community. SSD brands rarely disclose NAND sources on product pages. Remember that components can vary by production batch, even within the same model.
Which SSD brands are available in India?
Major SSD brands available in India include Samsung, Kingston, Western Digital, ADATA, Gigabyte, Corsair, Team Group, Lexar, and MSI. Kingston dominates the budget segment with strong distribution networks. Samsung leads the premium market. WD covers mid-to-high range. Always purchase through authorized distributors listed on brand websites to avoid gray market products and ensure valid India warranties.
Why do SSD brands swap components without telling customers?
SSD brands (especially ODM brands like Kingston, ADATA) source components based on NAND market pricing and availability, which fluctuates quarterly. When Samsung NAND prices spike, they might switch to Micron or SK Hynix NAND for the same model. This is legal and standard industry practice. Vertically integrated brands like Samsung maintain more consistency because they control their own supply chain.
What does "ODM" mean for SSD brands?
ODM stands for Original Design Manufacturer. ODM SSD brands (Kingston, ADATA, Corsair, Team Group, Lexar) don't manufacture NAND or controllers—they buy components from suppliers, assemble them, add firmware tuning, and sell under their brand name. This is different from vertically integrated brands like Samsung and WD, who make everything in-house. ODM brands typically offer better pricing but less component consistency.
Should I buy a 3-year warranty SSD or 5-year warranty SSD?
For everyday computing, gaming, and general use, a 3-year warranty SSD (most ODM brands) is sufficient. Modern SSDs typically last 5-10 years with normal use. Choose a 5-year warranty SSD (Samsung, WD premium models) if you're using it for: professional workloads (video editing, software development), mission-critical data storage, or high write-intensity applications. The warranty reflects the brand's confidence in longevity.
