[News] Samsung Reportedly Achieves 30%+ Yield in SF2 Test Production, Set for Q4 Mass Prodution

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According to Korean media outlet the bell, citing sources, Samsung Electronics has successfully achieved a higher-than-expected initial yield of over 30% in its SF2 (2nm) test production. The company plans to stabilize the process in the second half of 2025 in preparation for the mass production of Exynos 2600, the report adds.

Samsung’s SF2 Process and Exynos 2600 Production Roadmap

SF2 is Samsung’s next-generation 2nm process, which its Foundry Business Division plans to begin mass-producing in the second half of 2025, as highlighted in the report. This process reportedly integrates 3rd-generation Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology, offering a 12% performance improvement, 25% better power efficiency, and a 5% reduction in chip area compared to SF3 (3nm process).

Based on Samsung’s production roadmap, the first chip to be mass-produced using the SF2 process will be Exynos 2600, as noted in the report.

If yield stabilization proceeds smoothly, Samsung is expected to begin mass production of the Exynos 2600 using its SF2 process in Q4 2025. According to the report, the Exynos 2600 is set to power the Galaxy S26, which is scheduled for release in Q1 2026.

The report, citing sources, mentions that despite the delay in Exynos 2500 production, Exynos 2600’s schedule is expected to proceed as planned.

Challenges in Securing 2nm Customers & Need for Yield Stabilization

Samsung’s achievement of a 30%+ yield rate in Exynos 2600 test production is a significant milestone for its Foundry Business Division. If the process stabilization progresses as planned, the successful mass production of Exynos 2600 could serve as a key reference to attract potential customers, as highlighted by the report.

Currently, only a few companies have been identified as early customers of Samsung’s 2nm process, as the report points out. Among them is Preferred Networks (PFN), a Japanese company specializing in AI, which utilizes Samsung’s SF2X process, optimized for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) applications. Another key customer is Ambarella, a U.S.-based AI semiconductor company, which employs Samsung’s SF2A process, specifically designed for automotive applications.

Meanwhile, according to a previous report from the Financial Times, Samsung is preparing to attract customers to place orders for its 2-nanometer process at lower prices. The move is expected to compete for a portion of Qualcomm’s flagship chip production, as Qualcomm, a major customer of TSMC, may consider shifting some of its flagship chip production to Samsung’s 2-nanometer process.

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(Photo credit: Samsung)