Samsung Electronics is set to start mass production of its 3rd-generation 4-nm chips in the first half of 2023, according to BusinessKorea’s latest report. This news comes after it was reported last year that Samsung’s 3nm chip mass production was delayed due to poor yield.
Samsung’s 3rd Gen 4nm Chip Mass production to begin from 1st Half of 2023
Samsung Electronics announced on March 12th that they would begin mass production of chips through a 4-nm 2.3-generation process in the first half of this year. This follows a difficult period of yield management, leading to the loss of their largest customer, Qualcomm, to TSMC.
However, they have since seen steady improvements in their 4-nm process yield, now estimated to be at 60 percent. Though still behind TSMC’s yield, which is in the 70-80 percent range, experts say their yield is improving rapidly, and mass production is accelerating.
Samsung Electronics has been making strides in advanced processes, leading to an intensifying competition with TSMC in mass-producing ultra-micro fabrication processes for 5-nm or more advanced chips.
According to Counterpoint Research, 4- and 5-nm processes accounted for the highest percentage of sales (22%) at the third quarter of last year, surpassing 6- and 7-nm processes (16%) and 16-, 14- and 12-nm processes (11%).
To keep up, TSMC plans to mass-produce 4-nm chips at its Phoenix, Arizona plant in 2024, while Samsung Electronics is also building a 4-nm production line at its foundry plant in Taylor, Texas, to begin operations in the second half of 2024.