Samsung’s foundry business is reportedly advancing the development of a 1 nanometer chip manufacturing process, a strategic move aimed at keeping pace with industry leader TSMC.
Samsung is currently refining its 2 nm GAA (Gate-All-Around, SF2) process, with potential mass production slated for the end of 2025. This development is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance its semiconductor technology. According to recent reports, the company is making significant progress in this area, with industry insiders suggesting that Samsung is well-positioned to make substantial advancements in the near future.
Industry speculation had suggested that Samsung was uncertain about proceeding with its 1.4 nm (SF1.4) process, officially scheduled for rollout in 2027 according to published roadmaps. However, despite internal challenges, insiders indicate that Samsung has created a new team dedicated to developing an advanced “1 nm dream semiconductor process.” This initiative is seen as a strategic move to match or surpass key competitor TSMC, who currently leads in advanced manufacturing nodes, including 2 nm.
The new 1 nm development team comprises experienced researchers drawn from previous semiconductor projects at Samsung. Observers speculate that the company may cancel the originally planned SF1.4 process line in favor of the even more advanced 1 nm node. This potential shift underscores Samsung’s commitment to staying at the forefront of semiconductor technology.
The 1 nm process will require significant technological innovations, including a fundamental redesign of chip architecture and the use of advanced new tools such as high-NA (Numerical Aperture) EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography equipment. Samsung is aiming for mass production of 1 nm chips after 2029, with current roadmaps not extending past 2027. According to sources, the decision to pursue the 1 nm process was finalized by Samsung sometime in the previous month, highlighting the company’s proactive approach to advancing its semiconductor capabilities.
Insiders believe that Samsung’s push into 1 nm technology is driven by a desire to close the gap with TSMC. As stated in a recent South Korean report, “there is a realistic gap with Taiwan’s TSMC in technologies that are close to mass production, such as the 2 nm process, the company plans to speed up the development of the 1 nm process, a future technology, to create an opportunity for a turnaround.”
