Samsung has been grappling with challenges in improving the yield of its next-generation 3nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. Initially, the goal was to reach a 70% yield for its first and second-generation technologies. However, reports suggest the company has only managed a 20% yield for its improved version. In contrast, TSMC’s 2nm trial production has reportedly achieved an impressive 60% yield, leaving Samsung lagging behind.
There have been whispers in the industry that TSMC might step in to assist Samsung with producing Exynos chips, offering an alternative to Qualcomm chipsets that have predominantly powered Galaxy S flagship devices. Despite this hopeful speculation, a tipster has confirmed that such a collaboration is unlikely.
One significant obstacle in a potential partnership between TSMC and Samsung is the risk of sharing sensitive trade secrets. It’s rumored that Samsung has been searching for foundry partners that can help distribute its production load across various technologies. Although TSMC wasn’t explicitly mentioned, it is one of the few with the advanced capabilities needed in this field alongside Samsung.
This alliance would have been a boon for Samsung as the company is currently facing a drought in high-yield production, leading to a loss of several major clients, including Qualcomm. Unfortunately, the tipster “Jukanlosreve” has indicated that TSMC has declined to enter into an agreement with Samsung. The primary reason cited is the potential exposure of TSMC’s proprietary methods for maintaining high yields—knowledge that could give Samsung a competitive advantage in the future.
Even aside from TSMC’s caution over trade secrets, the Taiwanese company would likely have been able to efficiently handle Exynos orders and charge a premium for timely deliveries. With no partnership in sight, Samsung is left to push the boundaries of its technology independently. The good news is that Samsung reportedly began developing a System on a Chip (SoC) using the 2nm process, codenamed ‘Ulysses.’ As time progresses, it will be interesting to monitor their advancements and see if Samsung can close the gap in its yield shortfall.
