AI Summary of recently published articles:
Samsung Semiconductor has reportedly lowered its 2nm wafer price to $20,000, aiming to attract customers and utilize its advanced manufacturing capacity. This price represents a significant discount compared to TSMC's estimated $30,000 per wafer for its 2nm process.
Samsung has faced pressure to secure orders for its cutting-edge fabrication plants in South Korea and the United States, which have been running below capacity. This pricing strategy aligns with Samsung's history of competing on price against TSMC's strong market position.
TSMC currently leads in advanced node manufacturing and has secured major clients like NVIDIA and AMD for its 2nm process, with mass production planned for Q4 2025 at high wafer prices.
Recent Developments
Samsung recently secured a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla to produce next-gen AI chips, potentially utilizing the 2nm node at its Texas facility. This deal could also help improve Samsung's manufacturing yields.
- Samsung is actively pursuing major clients like Apple, Nvidia, AMD, MediaTek, Intel, and Qualcomm (Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 codenamed “Kaanapali S”) for 2nm performance evaluation and mass production readiness.
- The company is also expected to launch its Exynos 2600 chip, built on its in-house 2nm process, early next year, which could power the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
While Samsung's lower pricing is appealing, some industry voices suggest its 2nm node may not yet be at the same level as TSMC's. The move comes as the semiconductor industry sees a surge in investment and demand, largely driven by AI.
