The world’s leading semiconductor companies are racing to make “2-nanometer” (2 nm) processor chips that will power the next generation of smartphones, data centers and artificial intelligence. TSMC remains analysts’ favorite to maintain its global supremacy in the industry, but Samsung Electronics and Intel have identified the industry’s next leap forward as a chance to close the gap.
Who will win the 2 nm processor race?
For those who don’t know, let’s first explain what the “nm” in processors means. This stands for the distance between transistors. The more transistors in a processor, the more efficient and productive that processor works. Therefore, the shorter the distance between transistors, the more transistors fit inside the processor and the more powerful it becomes. For this reason, lower nm is superior.
According to reports, TSMC, which dominates the global market for processors, has already shown process test results for its 2 nm prototypes to some of its biggest customers, including Apple and Nvidia. But some leaks say Samsung is offering discounted versions of its latest 2-nanometer prototypes in a bid to attract big customers, including Nvidia.
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Former market leader Intel has also made bold claims that it will produce its next generation of chips by the end of next year. This could put the US company ahead of its Asian rivals, despite lingering doubts about the performance of its products.
TSMC, which says mass production of 2 nm processors will start in 2025, usually launches the mobile version first and is Apple’s main customer. PC versions and then high-performance processors designed for higher power loads are likely to come later.
Apple’s latest flagship smartphones, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, were the first mass-market consumer devices to use TSMC’s new 3-nanometer chip technology when they were launched in September this year. The iPhone 16 series, which will be released next year, is not expected to use 2 nm processors for the time being.
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