Samsung is making strides in the chip manufacturing arena with its latest Exynos chipset, codenamed ‘Ulysses.’ This new development demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to leveraging its innovative 2nm technology. As of now, while the Korean giant’s counterpart, TSMC, has achieved a significant milestone with a 60 percent yield in its 2nm process through trial production, Samsung has reached a commendable 30 percent yield with the Exynos 2600.
While still trailing behind TSMC’s impressive figures, this achievement signifies a notable improvement, especially considering Samsung’s struggles with previous 3nm technology. The trial production yields suggest progress, offering Samsung a glimmer of hope amid fierce industry competition.
Mass production using Samsung’s 2nm GAA process is anticipated to commence in the latter half of this year. This development could mark a pivotal moment, as increasing yield percentages are critical for securing lucrative deals with major clients like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Unfortunately, Samsung missed out on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 orders, as these are being produced using TSMC’s cutting-edge N3P process.
However, hope is not lost, as the recent yield improvements with the Exynos 2600 present a chance for Samsung to curb chipset expenses, particularly since the company currently relies heavily on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for its Galaxy S25 series. A Samsung Electronics representative expressed satisfaction with the progress, suggesting the Exynos 2600’s production timeline remains on track without anticipated delays akin to the Exynos 2500 rollout.
Samsung’s advanced 2nm GAA, or SF2 process, incorporates the company’s third-generation Gate All Around technology. This innovation is set to enhance performance by 12 percent, improve power efficiency by 25 percent, and reduce size by 5 percent compared to its SF3 technology. Should these yields continue upward, Samsung is poised to launch mass production by year-end, signaling a potential comeback in the advanced semiconductor market.
