Samsung has unveiled a new SSD at the China Flash Market Summit 2026 (CFMS 2026) that represents a remarkable change in architecture: The BM9K1 is Samsung’s first SSD whose controller is based on the open RISC-V instruction set architecture – instead of relying on ARM cores such as the Cortex-R8 as before. The PCIe 5.0 SSD with QLC NAND is set to be launched on the market from 2027 in capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB.
Samsung relies on RISC-V instead of ARM for the BM9K1
The switch to RISC-V is the central point of the announcement. The open instruction set architecture allows Samsung to adapt the controller much more flexibly to its own requirements. According to Samsung, the RISC-V design enables finer firmware optimization that is specifically tailored to the behavior of QLC NAND memory and AI-related I/O patterns. The result: Samsung promises a 23 percent improvement in energy efficiency compared to the predecessor model BM9C1.
A welcome side effect of the architecture change: Samsung saves the license fees that are incurred for the use of ARM’s architecture. Samsung is thus following the example of Western Digital (now known as Sandisk), which was the first major SSD manufacturer to switch to RISC-V controllers years ago.
Technical data of the Samsung BM9K1
| Specification | Samsung BM9K1 |
|---|---|
| interface | PCIe 5.0 |
| Controller architecture | RISC-V (self-developed) |
| NAND type | QLC (4 bits per cell) |
| Seq. read (max.) | up to 11.4 GB/s |
| Seq. write (max.) | not yet known |
| capacities | 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| Energy efficiency | +23 % compared to BM9C1 |
| Availability | from 2027 |
| Target group | Desktop PCs and notebooks (OEM) |
Read speed of 11.4 GB/s thanks to PCIe 5.0
Samsung specifies a sequential read speed of up to 11.4 GB/s for the BM9K1. According to the manufacturer, this is around 1.6 times faster than its predecessor, the BM9C1, which was still limited to PCIe 4.0. Samsung has not yet commented on the write speed – estimates from the industry assume values of around 10 GB/s.
However, as the BM9K1 relies on QLC NAND, which writes four bits per memory cell, the write performance outside of an SLC cache is likely to be significantly lower. This is the typical compromise with QLC: higher storage density and lower price per gigabyte, but less write endurance and lower continuous write performance than with TLC SSDs.
Competition: Micron 3610 and Samsung’s own TLC SSDs
With the BM9K1, Samsung is entering a still very manageable field. The only other PCIe 5.0 QLC client SSD announced so far is Micron’s 3610, which was already presented at CES in January. Micron’s solution achieves 11 GB/s sequential read and 9.3 GB/s write, is offered in capacities of up to 4 TB and is already scheduled to be delivered to OEM partners.
Samsung’s own high-end SSDs such as the 9100 Pro and its OEM counterpart PM9E1 based on TLC achieve read speeds of up to 14.8 GB/s with the 5 nm Presto controller. This shows: The BM9K1 is deliberately positioned in the mid-range – as a more cost-effective alternative for the mass market.
Efficiency as a key issue with PCIe 5.0
The energy efficiency of an SSD plays a key role, especially for notebooks. The first generation of PCIe 5.0 SSDs still relied on dedicated coolers due to their high power consumption of up to 12 watts and the resulting waste heat. The promised 23% improvement in efficiency could therefore make the BM9K1 particularly attractive for mobile devices.
Samsung is explicitly positioning the new SSD for applications in the field of “personal AI computing” – i.e. for local AI workloads on desktops and laptops. Whether this actually represents a technical difference compared to conventional client SSDs or is more due to the current marketing zeitgeist remains to be seen.
Market launch not until 2027 – price still open
The BM9K1 is primarily aimed at PC and notebook manufacturers who install it in their systems. Experience has shown that such OEM models only reach the open market occasionally and with a delay. Samsung has not revealed the exact form factor or price of the new SSD. In view of the current dynamics on the storage market, the price is unlikely to be fixed at this time.
The market launch is planned for 2027. Until then, it remains to be seen whether other manufacturers will follow suit with RISC-V controllers and whether Samsung will also adopt the architecture for its higher-performance TLC SSDs.
