Qualcomm and MediaTek choose TSMC’s 3nm technology over Samsung

The tech world has become a battleground with chip industry giants competing for the best foundries.

Companies like AMD, Apple, MediaTek, Nvidia and Qualcomm are using TSMC’s new manufacturing technologies to develop their latest semiconductors. Although some turn to Samsung Foundry for specific models, these are usually not the flagship models.

Although Samsung Foundry expected some of TSMC to switch to the 3nm process, it looks like that won’t happen anytime soon, China Times reveals.

There has been speculation that Qualcomm could use both Samsung Foundry and TSMC’s 3nm processes for this Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in 2024. However, a new report from China Times suggests that both MediaTek and Qualcomm plan to use TSMC’s second-generation 3nm (N3E) process to produce the Dimensity 9400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.

This new technology offers improvements in performance and efficiency compared to the N3B (first generation 3nm) process that Apple currently uses for its A17 Pro processor in the iPhone 15 Pro.

We heard this a few months ago TSMC’s first-generation 3nm (N3B) process had a 55% yield and a wafer of chips cost $20,000. Yield is the actual percentage of the area of ​​a wafer that can be converted into a single chip without defects. Typically, chipmakers charge customers regardless of performance. However, TSMC is said to have offered Apple special treatment for its N3B process and covered the costs for the defective wafers.

It is estimated that TSMC produces 60,000 to 70,000 wafers per month using the 3nm process. and that number is expected to rise to 100,000 by the end of next year. Currently, 5% of revenue comes from the 3nm process, but this share is expected to rise to 10% next year.

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On the other hand, Samsung foundry wants to change its image and compete with TSMC with advanced technologies by 2030. It uses a transistor design called GAA (Gate All Around), which is said to be more power efficient than the FinFET that TSMC uses in its 3nm process. However, has not yet found any major customers for its technology. It is rumored that AMD and Qualcomm could use Samsung’s 3nm and 4nm processes in the future, but there is no confirmation of this.

System LSI, Samsung’s chip design division, is developing the new Exynos 2500 processor, which is said to be significantly more efficient than previous Exynos chips. Known as the company’s “Dream Chip,” it could be the first complex chip made using Samsung Foundry’s second-generation 3nm process (3GAP). The launch is expected at the end of next year.

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