[News] TSMC to Lose 2nm Orders? NVIDIA and Qualcomm Reportedly Mull to Team up with Samsung

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With rumors indicating that Apple, one of TSMC’s most critical customers, may delay the adoption of the foundry giant’s 2nm process until 2026, a Commercial Times report, citing Chosun Daily and SamMobile, now suggests that NVIDIA and Qualcomm are following suit, as they are reportedly mulling to switch to Samsung’s 2nm for cutting-edge chips.

High costs and limited production capacity may cause the two U.S. chip heavyweights to have second thoughts, the reports note.

In addition to TSMC, Japan’s Rapidus and South Korea’s Samsung Foundry are both striving to achieve mass production of 2nm-class nodes. Among them, TSMC is leading the race. Its 2nm yield rate has reportedly reached 60%, and the node is slated for mass production in 2025, while trial production rumored to be kicked off in April.

On the other hand, Samsung is reportedly start test production of 2nm in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Chosun Daily. Rapidus is building a factory in Chitose City, Hokkaido, aiming to mass-produce 2 nm wafers in 2027, as per MoneyDJ.

Apple Reportedly Sticks to TSMC’s N3P for A19 

However, Apple’s decision to stick with TSMC’s N3P process to manufacture the A19 processor, which will be used in iPhone 17 in 2025, does raise concerns.

Notably, though TSMC gradually ramps up its capacity for 2nm, the process would be commercially viable for broader adoption later. By 2026, TSMC’s 2nm capacity is expected to rise from 10,000 wafers during trial production to 80,000 wafers per month, as per Commercial Times.

Samsung Gains Traction with Global Tech Giants and Local IC Firms

Therefore, due to high costs and limited capacity for TSMC’s 2nm, the Chosun Daily report notes that Samsung is also attracting domestic fabless companies’ interests, in addition to existing customers like Japan’s AI startup Preferred Networks (PFN). Moreover, it is reportedly conducting tests for the 2nm process with big tech players such as NVIDIA and Qualcomm, which are diversifying their foundry partners.

This is not the first time TSMC and Samsung are in close combat on Qualcomm’s orders. The South Korean semiconductor behemoth has reportedly lost part of the Snapdragon flagship orders from Qualcomm starting from 2020, while its 5nm yields had raised concerns.

A latest report from The Bell suggests that Qualcomm’s “Snapdragon 8 Elite 2,” scheduled for release in the second half of 2025, will be produced using TSMC’s N3P process. Samsung reportedly had competed for this contract but ultimately lost out.

Would the company be able to turn the tide with 2nm? The Chosun Daily report suggests that this may represent Samsung’s final opportunity for its foundry business, which is currently facing multi-billion-dollar losses.

Read more

• [News] Apple May Delay Adopting TSMC’s 2nm Node Until its Capacity Grows Eightfold in 2026
• [News] TSMC’s 2nm Trial Yield Reportedly Exceeds 60%, While Ex-Intel CEO Gelsinger Questions Metrics

(Photo credit: Samsung)