In a market where high-performance storage often comes with a premium price tag and power-hungry designs, Micron Technology has unveiled a potential game-changer. Announced on January 6, 2026, the Micron 3610 NVMe SSD aims to bridge the gap by bringing PCIe Gen5 speeds to mainstream and compact computing devices. This launch is particularly significant as it leverages Quad-Level Cell (QLC) NAND technology—a type of memory historically associated with lower cost but also compromised performance and endurance. Micron's latest move suggests a major evolution in QLC's capabilities, promising to deliver top-tier sequential speeds and unprecedented storage density in the smallest of packages, all while focusing on power efficiency. This article delves into the specifications, performance claims, and the broader implications of the 3610 SSD for the future of client computing.
Key Specifications of the Micron 3610 NVMe SSD
- Interface: PCIe Gen5 x4
- NAND Type: QLC (Micron G9)
- Form Factors: M.2 2230, 2242, 2280
- Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Max Sequential Read: Up to 11,000 MB/s
- Max Sequential Write: Up to 9,300 MB/s (1TB model: up to 7,200 MB/s)
- Random Read IOPS: Up to 1.5M
- Random Write IOPS: Up to 1.6M
- Notable Features: DRAM-less with HMB, Host-Controlled Thermal Management, DEVSLP power states, DOE & DICE security.
- Status: Sampling with OEM partners as of January 2026.
The 3610 SSD Represents a Strategic Shift in Client Storage
Micron positions the 3610 NVMe SSD as the industry's first PCIe Gen5 client SSD built on QLC NAND, specifically their in-house "G9" generation. This is a strategic product that sits between the company's premium Gen5 offerings and its value-oriented Gen4 drives. By utilizing QLC, which stores four bits of data per memory cell, Micron can achieve higher storage densities at a lower cost per gigabyte compared to Triple-Level Cell (TLC) or Multi-Level Cell (MLC) designs. The breakthrough lies in pairing this cost-effective NAND with the blistering interface of PCIe 5.0, a combination previously reserved for more expensive TLC-based drives. This allows OEMs to integrate cutting-edge storage performance into a wider range of laptops, mini-PCs, and handheld devices without drastically inflating the final product's cost or sacrificing too much battery life.
Performance & Efficiency Claims
- AI Performance: Can load a 20-billion-parameter AI model in <3 seconds.
- Power Efficiency: Claims 43% better performance per watt vs. Gen4 TLC SSDs.
- Benchmark Uplift: Up to 30% better scoring and 28% better bandwidth versus Gen4 QLC SSDs in PCMark 10 tests.
Performance and Specifications Target Mainstream and AI Workloads
The performance figures quoted for the Micron 3610 are impressive for a QLC drive, challenging preconceptions about the technology's limitations. Micron claims sequential read speeds of up to 11,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 9,300 MB/s for the higher-capacity models, with random input/output operations per second (IOPS) reaching 1.5 million for reads and 1.6 million for writes. A key focus of the drive is its suitability for emerging AI applications on client devices. Micron states the 3610 can load a 20-billion-parameter AI model in under three seconds, enabling faster local AI inference for features like real-time language translation, image generation, or intelligent assistants without constant cloud dependency. It's important to note that the 1TB model operates at slightly lower write speeds, capped at 7,200 MB/s, indicating a performance tiering based on capacity.
Form Factor and Efficiency Enable New Device Designs
Perhaps the most striking hardware achievement is the availability of a 4TB capacity in the M.2 2230 form factor. This tiny, single-sided module is commonly used in devices like the Steam Deck, Microsoft Surface tablets, and ultra-thin laptops where space is at an absolute premium. Offering such high density in this size unlocks new possibilities for OEMs to create powerful, storage-rich devices in incredibly compact designs. To manage thermals in these often fanless enclosures, the 3610 features host-controlled thermal management, giving system manufacturers precise control over performance throttling. Furthermore, its DRAM-less architecture with Host Memory Buffer (HMB) support and DEVSLP low-power states contributes to a claimed 43% improvement in performance per watt compared to a Gen4 TLC SSD, a critical metric for extending battery life in mobile devices.
The Launch Context: A Silver Lining in a Challenging Market
The announcement comes during what industry observers have termed a "memory apocalypse," a period of tight supply and elevated prices for DRAM and NAND flash. This context makes the 3610's potential value proposition even more intriguing. Just weeks before this launch, Micron's decision to discontinue its consumer-focused Crucial brand SSD line had cast doubt on its commitment to the retail market. The 3610, while initially sampling with OEM partners, signals that Micron still sees a vital role in providing foundational storage technology for the broader PC ecosystem. If the promised balance of Gen5 performance and QLC economics materializes in final products, it could help stabilize or even reduce the cost of high-capacity, high-speed storage for consumers in the long run, acting as a counterweight to the current market pressures.
Security and the Road Ahead for QLC Adoption
Beyond performance, Micron has equipped the 3610 with modern security features tailored for an increasingly connected world. These include support for Data Object Exchange (DOE) and Device Identifier Composition Engine (DICE), protocols designed to improve the protection of user data through enhanced authentication and measured boot processes. As the drive moves from sampling to broader availability in 2026, its success will hinge on real-world reliability and sustained performance, which have been traditional concerns for QLC NAND. If Micron's G9 QLC proves robust, the 3610 could legitimize QLC as a viable technology for performance-tier client storage, accelerating its adoption and pushing higher capacities and lower prices into more devices. This launch isn't just about a new SSD; it's a test case for the next phase of consumer storage evolution.