Samsung is back in the game, and TSMC’s got competition. According to ZDNet Korea, the company is finally kicking off mass production of its 4nm chipsets after struggling with low yields. This marks a major turnaround for the Samsung Foundry business. But the real question is, can Samsung now win back clients like Qualcomm and Google?
Mass production of 4nm chips
Samsung was one of the first to introduce 4nm chips. However, early versions suffered from low yields and power inefficiency. That led major customers like Qualcomm to jump ship. For example, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, built on Samsung’s first-gen 4nm process, had poor thermal efficiency. As a result, Qualcomm moved the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Gen 2 to TSMC’s 4nm node.
The company’s latest fourth-generation 4nm process node (SF4X) is said to be a big improvement, which is why Samsung is confident enough to begin mass production on it. Yield rates have increased, making production more cost-effective. SF4X also features Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) wiring technology, which enhances power efficiency and performance.
Apparently, this process boosts chip density and reduces power consumption, but we’ll have to wait for real-world tests to decide if it can truly compete with TSMC’s 4nm chips.
This progress also means Samsung’s mass production of 4nm is now stable. That could attract companies looking to diversify their foundry partners. Qualcomm, which relies heavily on TSMC, might consider splitting orders between the two foundries.
Google is reportedly turning to TSMC for its Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10. However, if Samsung’s yields and chips live up to its claims, maybe Google could return for future Tensor chipsets.
Samsung is competitive again
The focus on technology is always on the latest and greatest tech. Right now, more companies are turning to TSMC’s 3nm process to produce its chipsets. Apple’s A17 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite are some of the commercially available chipsets that are built on TSMC’s 3nm process.
However, this doesn’t mean that 4nm should be forgotten and discarded. There is still a lot of use for the 4nm process. Companies that want to make more affordable phones use lower-end chipsets. These chipsets can benefit from the 4nm process. If Samsung’s 4nm process is truly improved and has better yield and energy efficiency, the company could focus on volume by producing chipsets for other companies like MediaTek. It could also convince Qualcomm to return for its Snapdragon 7 series.
