Samsung's GaN rumored setbacks threaten foundry launch, leaving it racing to close reliability gap

Samsung's GaN fab delays reveal critical reliability issues under high-temperature conditions, impacting not only its own production timeline but also upstream suppliers of materials and equipment. With the market already dominated by Infineon and STMicroelectronics, Samsung risks losing its window in high-growth segments like fast charging and 5G infrastructure if it fails to resolve these issues by 2027. From a policy standpoint, tightening export controls in China Taiwan/ Taiwan, China and the U.S. will raise operational costs for accessing key equipment and materials. Competitors may accelerate R&D or pursue M&A to capture market share. In the next 12 months, the GaN market will see a divergence in technology paths, and Samsung’s failure to overcome current hurdles could sideline its strategic position in power semiconductors.