Intel's plans for its next-gen SSDs and 2nd Generation Optane SSDs include migration to 144-layer flash memory.

Blocks & Files got some information from Rob Crooke, head of Intel NSG, reporting that Intel's 144 layers flash technology
is codenamed 'Keystone Harbor' and that the first SSDs of the family are slated to debut in 2021.

Intel is also said to be developing an SSD technology that stores five bits per cell, known as PLC.

Rival Samsung is reportedly accelerating the development of 160-layer NAND using a "Double-Stack" technique. Chinese company YMTC is also building 128-layer QLC NAND using its own "Xtacking 2.0" architecture.

Seperately, Intel's 2nd-Generation Optane SSDs is said to feature two-layer memory, and a new controller provides a PCIe 4.0 interface for data transfer between the SSD and your PC, improving the bandwidth. Today's Optane SSDs come in capacities up to 1.5TB.

A gen 2 3D XPoint DIMM, codenamed Barlow Pass, will launch later this year and you can expect an Optane update in June.

The new Optane SSDs are known under the codename 'Alder Stream.'