According to the most recent report from BusinessKorea, Samsung Electronics plans to begin mass producing its third-generation 4-nm processors in the first half of 2023. Since Samsung’s 3nm chip mass production was rumoured to have been delayed due to poor yield last year, this announcement comes as a follow-up.
Samsung could start 3rd-Gen 4nm chip production in H1 2023
On March 12th, Samsung Electronics revealed that within the first half of this year, they would start mass producing chips using a 4-nm, 2.3-generation technology. This comes after a challenging period of yield control that resulted in the loss of their biggest client, Qualcomm, to TSMC.
Yet, they have since noticed consistent gains in their 4-nm process yield, which is currently thought to be about 60%. Although their yield is still below TSMC’s, which is in the 70–80% range, analysts claim it is improving quickly, and mass production is speeding up.
In order to mass-produce ultra-microfabrication techniques for 5-nm or more sophisticated circuits, Samsung Electronics has been competing more fiercely with TSMC as a result of its advancements in advanced technologies.
In the third quarter of last year, 4- and 5-nm processes generated the highest percentage of sales (22%), compared to 6- and 7-nm processes (16%) and 16-, 14-, and 12-nm processes (11%), according to Counterpoint Research.
To keep up, Samsung Electronics is also constructing a 4-nm production line at its foundry factory in Taylor, Texas, to start operations in the second half of 2024, while TSMC aims to begin mass-producing 4-nm chips at its Phoenix, Arizona, facility in 2024.
