TSMC Launches 2nm Chip Trial Production, Promising Performance Leap

Samsung announced yesterday that it has secured its first 2nm order, utilizing the 2nm GAA process and 2.5D packaging technology with Interposer-Cube S (I-Cube S) to manufacture chips for AI accelerators. Samsung has long aspired to outpace TSMC in mass-producing the 2nm process, aiming to gain a competitive edge by leveraging speed. Meanwhile, TSMC, despite facing pressure from competitors and strong market demand, remains unhurried and continues to develop and schedule mass production of its 2nm process at its own pace.

According to Wccftech, TSMC plans to begin trial production of 2nm chips next week, with testing to be conducted in Baoshan, northern Taiwan. The factory has been equipped with the necessary devices and components for this testing phase, an installation completed in the second quarter of this year. Compared to the 3nm node, the new process is expected to offer a performance increase of 10% to 15% or a reduction in power consumption by 30%.

Apple hopes to adopt 2nm chips in its products next year, with the iPhone 17 series potentially being the first devices to feature these advanced chips. Reports indicate that Apple also intends to use the 2nm process in its M5 series to deliver higher performance and lower power consumption, which is crucial for laptops and iPads.

Once the chips enter the initial testing phase, it will take some time for TSMC to fully analyze the data. Should any issues arise during trial production, adjustments may be necessary, potentially causing project delays of several months and postponing the launch of new products. TSMC aims to achieve stable yield rates and commence large-scale production of the 2nm process by next year.