[Taiwan Chip Report] TSMC and MediaTek Complete 2nm-Based Chip Design

MediaTek, the AP Powerhouse, Completes 2nm Chip Design
Taiwanese Companies Accelerate Tech Innovation with TSMC Collaboration
Key Focus: Samsung's Next-Generation Exynos and 2nm Adoption

MediaTek, a global semiconductor design company headquartered in Taiwan, announced that it has completed the design of a flagship system-on-chip (SoC) using TSMC's 2nm (1nm = one billionth of a meter) process, marking a world first. MediaTek, which has long shared the smartphone application processor (AP) market with Qualcomm, is signaling an intensifying technological race, while also highlighting that Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem is leading at the forefront of advanced processes. Samsung Electronics is also preparing its next-generation SoC, the Exynos 2600, utilizing its own foundry's 2nm process, but the timing for mass production remains unclear.

According to local media such as Taiwan Economic Daily on September 22, MediaTek recently completed the design of its 2nm process SoC, becoming the first customer to adopt TSMC's 2nm process. The new chip is scheduled to begin mass production in the second half of this year and will be released to the market next year. This project signals diversified cooperation between the two companies in flagship mobile and high-performance computing (HPC) sectors, and is expected to serve as a milestone in expanding MediaTek's lineup of high-performance, low-power products.

TSMC's 2nm process is characterized by the introduction of a nanosheet transistor structure, which comprehensively optimizes performance, power, and yield. MediaTek plans to apply its first 2nm chip to a wide range of applications, from edge to cloud. A MediaTek representative explained, "We will comprehensively enhance the user experience and further strengthen the competitiveness of our flagship platform." According to TSMC, the enhanced 2nm process achieves approximately 20% higher logic density and up to 18% better performance compared to the existing N3E node (TSMC's 3nm process). At the same speed, power consumption can be reduced by about 36%, making it advantageous for battery life and heat management in mobile and HPC platforms.

Joe Chen, President of MediaTek, stated, "The adoption of the 2nm process once again demonstrates MediaTek's ability to rapidly commercialize advanced processes. Through our long-term partnership with TSMC, we will ensure that our flagship products maintain the highest levels of performance and power efficiency, thereby meeting the diverse needs of customers worldwide."

TSMC is estimated to have achieved a yield rate of around 60% during the 2nm trial production phase. Generally, a yield rate above 60% is considered sufficient for stable mass production. Apple's next-generation processor is also expected to be manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process, and this chip will be used in the flagship iPhone 18 series to be released next year.

Samsung Electronics Foundry is also staking its future on the 2nm process. The company plans to produce its next-generation AP, the Exynos 2600, designed by its System LSI division, using the 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) process. Internally, Samsung has set the mass production schedule for the Exynos 2600 for November this year, but there has been no news yet regarding the achievement of a stable 2nm yield.

The 2nm market is considered the key battleground where Samsung Electronics aims to catch up with TSMC. According to TrendForce, TSMC's global foundry market share in the second quarter of this year rose by 2.6 percentage points from the previous quarter to 70.2%, marking an all-time high. Although Samsung Electronics increased its foundry revenue, its market share fell from 7.7% to 7.2%.

Taiwan Economic Daily News = Reporter Zhu Jiasen / Translation by Asia Economy

*This column is published through a strategic partnership between Asia Economy and Taiwan Economic Daily News.