No matter how much TSMC is challenged when it comes to mass producing wafers on any advanced lithography, the company possesses a magic wand that allows it to bypass the most daunting of obstacles. Regarding its 1.4nm process, or A14, the semiconductor giant stated that the technology’s development is coming along nicely, with risk production expected to begin in 2027, followed by full-scale manufacturing in 2028.
Success with the 1.4nm process will jumpstart development of more advanced A13 and A12 nodes, with TSMC hoping that long-term benefits overshadow 2nm
After mentioning that its 2nm process has four times as many tape-outs as the 3nm node during the same stage, DigiTimes reports that TSMC has once again excellent news to share concerning its cutting-edge lithography, only this time, it’s the 1.4nm process. We previously reported that the Taiwanese firm’s first fabrication plant for the new process was nearing completion, with pilot production expected to start as early as Q3 2027.
Compared to the 2nm N2 node, TSMC claims that its 1.4nm technology delivers a 10 percent to 15 percent performance improvement at the same power draw, or 25 percent to 30 percent lower power consumption at the same clock speeds. At the same time, the 1.4nm node delivers a logic density increase by nearly 20 percent.
The report doesn’t mention which company will be the first to adopt the next-generation process, but we have one hunch. Seeing as how Apple is reported to abandon the 2nm node after just two generations, it will likely be the first to take advantage of the 1.4nm lithography in 2028 when it unveils the A22 Pro.
The A14’s inception will also give rise to more advanced technologies like A13 and A12, with TSMC leveraging its DTCO (design-technology co-optimization) to perform optical shrinks while aiming for smoother migrations to the advanced processes. A12 is said to be an A14 variant that uses Super Power Rail technology, bringing further improvements to power, performance, and area.
Is Samsung offering some competition, or will TSMC win by a landslide?
The report mentions that TSMC is banking on the 1.4nm process to usher in an era of scale and demand that exceeds the 2nm N2. Naturally, Samsung won’t be watching from the sidelines, as previous reports have stated that the Korean giant will begin production of its own 1.4nm process, or SF1.4, by 2029, with a slightly improved version called SF1.4+ expected to arrive by 2030.
News Source: DigiTimes
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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