Samsung Foundry turns to 5nm, 8nm orders as 2nm comeback takes shape - digitimes

Samsung Electronics is implementing a dual-track foundry strategy, accelerating its 2nm development for future customers while urging partners to boost sales of 5nm and 8nm processes to support near-t... Read original →

Samsung Foundry’s push to boost 5nm/8nm orders while racing toward 2nm reflects a pragmatic response to prolonged yield ramp and customer adoption cycles at leading-edge nodes. Technologically, this strains the ecosystem—EDA and IP vendors must sustain support across multiple process generations, slowing EUV depreciation efficiency on mature nodes. Geopolitically, heavy reliance on non-U.S. clients for 2nm development risks supply chain disruption under tightening export controls on advanced equipment. Competitively, TSMC will likely deepen client lock-in at 3nm/2nm, while SMIC expands its dominance in 40–28nm markets. Over the next 12–24 months, the industry will bifurcate into an ‘advanced-node arms race’ and a ‘mature-node cash cow’ model. Samsung’s dual-track approach offers near-term stability but risks long-term foundry relevance if 2nm volume production slips beyond the critical 2027 window.