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Rumor mill: Samsung’s entry into 1.4nm-class manufacturing with its SF1.4 node would have represented a major technological leap, providing enhanced energy effectivity and efficiency over earlier generations – a very essential development for high-performance computing and AI purposes. To achieve a aggressive edge, Samsung designed SF1.4 with an economical method to decrease manufacturing prices, aiming to assist them seize extra market share.
Samsung Foundry had initially planned for the SF1.4 node to enter high-volume manufacturing by 2027 alongside different specialised nodes like SF2A – designed for automotive purposes – and SF2Z, the corporate’s first to include bottom energy supply expertise.
However a current rumor means that Samsung’s bold 1.4nm node could also be scrapped completely. This hypothesis comes from trusted leaker @Jukanlosreve, casting doubt on the way forward for the method.
The potential setback is a part of a broader sequence of challenges the corporate is going through.
Pressing: Samsung’s SF1.4 could be canceled.
Are they planning to close down Samsung Foundry?
– Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) March 14, 2025
Samsung Foundry has struggled with subpar yields from its SF3 course of, leading to a delayed launch of the Exynos 2500. Moreover, the corporate has needed to reduce components of its older 5nm and 7nm nodes resulting from low demand.
Regardless of these setbacks, Samsung is reportedly persevering with to develop the Exynos 2600 on its SF2 course of and is engaged on AI chips for PFN. Moreover, a few of its 4nm nodes have obtained fresh orders from Chinese language fabless corporations affected by sanctions, based on Chosun.
Nonetheless, main trade gamers proceed to favor rivals like TSMC and Intel over Samsung. The Korea Financial Every day notes that Samsung Foundry’s market share of 8.2 p.c pales compared to TSMC’s dominant 67.1 p.c, which might result in a major overhaul inside the firm. Moreover, Enterprise Publish suggests that the Exynos division could also be transferred to Samsung MX, giving it extra management over future smartphone system-on-chip designs.
Samsung’s struggles within the semiconductor sector are compounded by broader challenges throughout its enterprise divisions. The corporate lately reported a decline in market share throughout a number of key sectors, together with smartphones and reminiscence chips. Samsung’s Cellular Division noticed its market share drop to twenty-eight.3 p.c in 2024, down from 30.1 p.c in 2023, whereas its DRAM market share slipped to 41.5 p.c from 42.2 p.c.
The corporate can also be going through geopolitical dangers and uncooked materials value volatility, which additional complicate its operations.
In response to those challenges, Samsung is slashing its foundry investments for 2025 by greater than half, decreasing them to KRW 5 trillion ($3.5 billion), in comparison with KRW 10 trillion in 2024.
