SK hynix Supplies 321-Layer QLC cSSDs to Dell

Icheon, South Korea — Memory chipmaker SK Hynix announced Wednesday that it has begun supplying its first 321-layer Quad-Level Cell (QLC) client solid-state drives (cSSDs) to Dell Technologies.

The storage product, designated PQC21, is available in 1-terabyte (TB) and 2TB capacities.

The drives combine 321-layer stacking with QLC NAND flash, which stores four bits per cell to increase overall storage density.

According to SK Hynix, the drives incorporate Single-Level Cell (SLC) caching technology.

This feature allocates a portion of the flash memory to operate in a one-bit mode, temporarily accelerating data read and write speeds.

The company is targeting the market for personal computers equipped with artificial intelligence processing capabilities.

Following the initial distribution to Dell in April, SK Hynix announced plans to expand PQC21 supply to additional global computer manufacturers.

According to data from market research firm IDC, as cited by the company, QLC NAND is projected to account for 61 percent of the global cSSD market by 2027, up from 22 percent in 2025.