TSMC was supposed to start the production of chips using its 3nm process node last month. However, according to a new report from Seeking Alpha, the production of 3nm chips at TSMC has been delayed to Q4 2022.
Samsung, on the other hand, started the production of chips using the 3nm process nodes in June this year, pulling ahead of TSMC this time around. Even if TSMC starts producing 3nm chips this month, Samsung will still be three months ahead in the game.
That being said, the Korean tech giant is currently producing the 3nm chips in very low quantities, and that’s most likely because the company needs more time to ramp up production. Due to low production capacity, Samsung is supplying the 3nm chips only to a Chinese cryptocurrency firm, and it hasn’t been able to secure a deal with larger tech brands, such as AMD or Qualcomm, as these companies need chips in very large volumes.
It will be interesting to see if Samsung Foundry can boost the production of its 3nm chips by the time TSMC starts its 3nm production. According to various reports, the majority of TSMC’s 3nm chip production capacity will be taken up by Apple for its upcoming M3 chip. If Samsung can ramp up the 3nm production by then, it could secure a deal from AMD and Qualcomm to manufacture their upcoming 3nm chips, as TSMC will already have its hands full.
