Samsung has announced that it is on track to begin mass production of 2nm semiconductor chips for mobile processors in 2025. The company plans to manufacture 2nm chips for HPC (High-Performance Computing) in 2026 and automotive applications in 2027. It will also start producing 1.4nm chips in 2027.
The Korean tech giant is the world’s second-largest semiconductor foundry after TSMC. Both firms started producing 3nm chips last year and have long planned to move to 2nm solutions in 2025. At its 6th annual Samsung Foundry Forum last year, Samsung shared its semiconductor roadmap for the next five years. The roadmap included improvements for 3nm chips as well as production plans for 2nm and 1.4nm solutions.
Samsung reiterated those timelines at this year’s Samsung Foundry Forum, the US edition of which concluded recently (the company will also hold the conference in South Korea in July and expand to Europe and other major Asian markets later this year). The event was attended by over 700 industry guests, while 38 companies showcased the latest foundry technology trends to the attendees.
During the event, Samsung revealed that its 2nm process (SF2) is already promising notable improvements over its 3nm process (SF3). The company is claiming a 12 percent increase in performance, a 25 percent increase in power efficiency, and a 5 percent decrease in chip area. It isn’t yet ready to share more details about 1.4nm chips, though. Those solutions are probably still in the very early stages of development.
Samsung will also launch its 5nm RF process for 6G technology in 2025
Samsung Foundry has more big plans for 2025. The company already has a 5nm Radio Frequency (RF) process under development, which it aims to launch in the first half of 2025. The new solutions will bring a 40 percent increase in power efficiency and a 50 percent decrease in chip area compared to the 14nm process. This will come in time for 6G wireless technology.
The Korean behemoth also plans to begin foundry services for 8-inch gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors in 2025. Moreover, it will add automotive applications to its 8nm and 14nm RF processes. Mass production of these solutions is currently limited to mobile applications. Of course, these expansions will require a higher production capacity. To that end, Samsung is expanding its chip factories in South Korea and the US.
Samsung is building new manufacturing lines at its Pyeongtaek campus in South Korea. Line 3 will be ready for mass production of foundry products for mobile and other applications later this year. The construction of its new chip plant in Taylor, Texas, is also in full swing and going according to plan. It will be finished by the end of this year, with operations beginning in the second half of 2024. Samsung says its clean room capacity will increase by 7.3 times between 2021 and 2027.
2023-06-28 15:05:53