Samsung Rumored to Mull on Scrapping 1.4nm Node to Prioritize 2nm/3nm Yield Gains

As Samsung is eager to stem losses in its foundry business, the latest market rumor indicates that the company might plan to cancel its 1.4nm node, according to Techspot and Wccftech.

www.trendforce.com, Mar. 17, 2025 – 

Citing remarks from tech tipster @Jukanlosreve, Wccftech suggests that the move could be made due to foundry struggles or a shift to focus on improving wafer yields first. According to the report, Samsung plans to start Exynos 2600 production in May, aiming to improve 2nm GAA yields to launch its Galaxy S26 SoC and attract more customers.

Though no official reason has been given, it may be a strategic move for Samsung to strengthen its 3nm and 2nm GAA nodes, which have yet to reach stable mass production yields, as noted by Wccftech.

According to Techspot, Samsung originally aimed to begin 1.4nm mass production by 2027, alongside specialized nodes like SF2A (automotive) and SF2Z (backside power delivery). However, the plan may now reportedly be under reconsideration.

The Techspot report further notes that Samsung Foundry’s SF3 yields remain low, delaying Exynos 2500 and prompting cuts to 5nm and 7nm production due to weak demand.

Before the latest rumors, Sedaily  reported that Samsung’s foundry division planned to cut 2025 facility investments by over half due to ongoing struggles.

The budget is set at KRW 5 trillion ($3.5 billion), down sharply from KRW 10 trillion in 2024, as per Sedaily.

Beyond speculation about Samsung scrapping 1.4nm, a Korea Economic Daily report suggests the company is reviewing its chip design and foundry businesses, including the possibility of halting investments in its Pyeongtaek (Korea) and Taylor (U.S.) plants.

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