Samsung Electronics, the division of the South Korean company also dedicated to the semiconductor industry, has become the first company to start the production of 3 nanometer chipstechnology that promises considerable improvements over the current 5 nanometers and that some of the most important technology firms in the market, such as Apple, hope to include in their future processors.
For the time being, and as indicated ReutersSamsung is looking for new customers with the aim of competing against TSMC, who also plans to start production of 3-nanometer chips during 2022. Although names have not yet been revealed, everything indicates that one of the main ones will be Samsung itself. This, let us remember, also manufactures mobile phones, computers and other types of devices. Samsung even has its own chips for smartphones, known as Exynos, which currently work at 4 nanometers. Other potential clients are Chinese companies dedicated to the manufacture of electronic products, although which ones have not been specified.
Now, what advantages do 3-nanometer chips have over the already standardized 5-nanometer chips? Samsung ensures that this technology promises to make processors a much more powerful and efficient component. Specifically, 3-nanometer chips can improve performance by up to 23% over 5-nanometer chips. They are also able to reduce energy consumption by up to 45%. The 3 nanometer technology also allows the chip area to be reduced by 16%.
Samsung is not alone: TSMC is also developing 3 nanometer chips
While Samsung’s start of 3-nanometer chip production is very good news, this being the first might not specifically be an advantage. TSMC, one of the main suppliers of semiconductors, and which works with large companies, such as Apple and Qualcomm, it is also about to start manufacturing chips with this architecture. This company has been producing semiconductors with this technology since the end of 2021. They also hope to start a production throughout this year.
In the case of TSMC, Apple could be your main client. The Cupertino firm hopes to have 3-nanometer chips for some of its future iPad and Mac processors. Just a few days ago, DigiTimes revealed that the M2 Pro chip, which will come to the future 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as other models, would have this technology. It is also expected that the iPhones that Apple announces in 2023 will also have 3-nanometer processors. Intel, on the other hand, could also opt for TSMC for the production of, in this case, its 3-nanometer CPUs.