No rush for 1.4 nm! Samsung Exynos 2800 switches to 2 nm SF2P+ process

According to a report by South Korean media outlet ZDNet, Samsung Electronics’ next-generation system-on-chip (SoC), the Exynos 2800 (codenamed Vanguard), will not adopt the originally planned 1.4-nanometer process but will instead use an upgraded 2-nanometer GAA process (SF2P+), with the goal of completing the design (tape-out) within this year.

The report notes that Samsung has delayed the mass production timeline for the 1.4-nanometer (SF1.4) process, opting instead to use the soon-to-be-mass-produced second-generation 2-nanometer process SF2P and its upgraded version SF2P+ as its primary nodes. This move aims to optimize chip performance and power efficiency without driving up costs.

Compared to the first-generation 2-nanometer (SF2) process, SF2P offers approximately a 12% performance boost while reducing power consumption by 25% and shrinking chip area by 8%; the further-developed SF2P+ utilizes optical shrink technology to reduce circuit dimensions, helping to enhance overall performance and energy efficiency.

Samsung’s continued use of the 2-nanometer process also helps reduce design complexity and improve yield stability in wafer foundry operations. Industry sources reveal that the design progress for Samsung’s Exynos 2700 (codenamed Ulysses), which is expected to enter mass production this year, is proceeding relatively smoothly.

As for 1.4-nanometer process roadmaps, TSMC plans to begin mass production of its 1.4-nanometer process in 2028; Intel’s 14A process is scheduled for pilot production in 2027 and mass production in 2028; in contrast, Samsung has pushed back its 1.4-nanometer timeline to 2029.