As indicated by reports, Samsung Electronics has initiated the production of chips using its newly improved second-generation 3-nanometer (3-nm) technology. This process is regarded as the latest large-scale chip manufacturing strategy expected to revolutionize the industry, with initial application tipped for simple structure chips developers in China.
South Korean publication, The Chosun Daily, reported that Samsung Electronics has already started making products using the advanced 2nd-gen 3-nm technology. This technology, like the first-generation, utilizes a gate-all-around (GAA) transistor structure, an intricate layer that needs mastering. As Samsung currently produces chip prototypes for internal testing, it anticipates raising the yield rate of viable chips to over 60% within the next six months.
Samsung’s advanced 3-nm chips are first expected to be integrated into wearable smart devices, specifically the Galaxy Watch 7, which is set to debut this year. The subsequent year will see the launch of the Galaxy S25 family of smartphones, expected to be powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 processors, manufactured using the 2nd-generation 3-nm technology.
If Samsung’s second-generation 3-nm products prove successful, the company aims to attract orders from Qualcomm. This move stands to repair their relationship which had suffered during the 4-nm technology phase. Presently, Qualcomm places its mobile processor production orders with TSMC, but Samsung is hoping to win over new orders within the 3-nm second-generation technology framework. TSMC had a 57.9% market share in worldwide contract chip manufacturing services in the third quarter of the previous year, whereas Samsung Electronics stood at 12.4%. With the introduction of the advanced 3-nm technology, Samsung stands to gain traction among potential clients and boost its market share in this industry.
