Samsung May Beat TSMC to Market with 2nm Chips—If It Can Overcome Past Yield Challenges
Samsung may be regaining its competitive edge in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing race, with recent reports suggesting that the South Korean foundry has made significant strides in its 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process technology. According to insiders, the company’s trial production of the Exynos 2600 SoC using its 2nm GAA node has reportedly reached yields of approximately 30%, a considerable improvement from its problematic 3nm GAA rollout. While far from the industry-standard 70% threshold required for mass production and third-party orders, this early milestone could pave the way for full-scale wafer production.
TSMC, meanwhile, continues to take a more calculated approach. Its own 2nm trial production yields are reported to have surpassed 60%, with expectations that those numbers have further improved over the past three months. According to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, TSMC’s 2nm process is being prepped for Apple’s A20 SoC, slated to power the iPhone 18 series in the second half of 2026. The Taiwanese giant is also preparing to hit 50,000 wafers per month by the end of 2025, showcasing the scale and maturity of its production pipeline.
Samsung, aiming to get ahead in the timeline, plans to begin production of the Exynos 2600 as early as May 2025. However, to secure a place in the Galaxy S26 series, the SoC’s design must be finalized by Q3 2025. This strategy echoes Samsung’s earlier 3nm GAA initiative announced in 2022, which ultimately failed to deliver a market advantage due to poor yields and production complications.
Though Samsung may technically “win” the race to be first with 2nm, TSMC’s consistent process development, stronger customer base, and superior yield management provide a dominant counterbalance. If Samsung’s yields rise fast enough to meet commercial demand, however, it could reclaim significant ground and potentially alter the competitive dynamics of the global semiconductor industry.
As it stands, the battle for 2nm supremacy underscores the critical role that manufacturing maturity and scale play in determining real-world market leadership. Samsung’s comeback story depends entirely on how quickly—and effectively—it can scale past these remaining hurdles.
Do you think Samsung can close the gap with TSMC in time? Or will TSMC's consistent yield advantage keep them ahead? Join the discussion below!
