With the 3nm GAA process showing improved yields, Samsung states that it is developing its second-generation process
Earlier, Qualcomm was reportedly unsure if it wanted to mass produce the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the 3nm process due to the high cost of wafers. This decision would give Apple a huge edge when it announces its A17 Bionic for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra. According to The Korea Economic Daily, Samsung is experiencing improved yields with its 3nm GAA process, which can only mean that both Qualcomm and MediaTek might regain confidence in their decision to mass produce cutting-edge silicon. However, Samsung still needs to close the yield rate gap with TSMC in order to start receiving orders since Qualcomm wants to adopt a dual-sourcing approach in order to cut its wafer costs for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This can only be achieved if TSMC and Samsung have a similar yield rate, otherwise, Qualcomm will have little choice but to stick with its Taiwanese foundry partner for the majority of orders, and that will only mean higher wafer costs for the San Diego firm. With the yield improvement, a Samsung official said that the company is developing the second-generation 3nm GAA process without delay. Though no confirmation was given when these chips will be provided to relevant clients, it is likely that Samsung will start mass production sometime in 2024. Currently, Samsung holds a 16.4 percent market share in the world’s foundry market, according to September 2022 statistics, while TSMC dominates this segment with a 53.4 percent market share. It is safe to assume that Samsung will not be a threat to TSMC’s dominance for the time being, so at least for now, it can improve its 3nm GAA yields further to facilitate companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek. News Source: The Korea Economic Daily
