The 2nm era is expected to begin next year, with chipsets like Apple’s A20 and A20 Pro being the driving force when it comes to the adoption of this technology, and at the forefront of the entire process, we have TSMC. The Taiwanese semiconductor behemoth was reported to be facing technological limitations with its 3nm process, as it was employing Fin Field-Effect Transistor (FinFET). With the Gate All-Around (GAA) architecture, TSMC aims to improve the 2nm node’s attributes in both performance and efficiency, which has ultimately attracted a swath of clients to adopt this manufacturing process.
By shifting from FinFET to GAA, TSMC’s 2nm process can deliver between a 10-15 percent performance improvement over the same power consumption and even better efficiency metrics
Earlier, it was reported that two of TSMC’s 2nm plants were completely booked, with the manufacturer required to commence the construction of three additional production facilities to sate demand, which is an undertaking that will require an estimated investment of $28.6 billion. Now, according to United Daily News, TSMC’s entire 2nm process has been fully booked for 2026, with mass production expected to start by the end of the year.
Various customers such as Qualcomm, MediaTek, Apple, AMD, and others are known clients of the 2nm process, but one major reason why TSMC has run into meeting the raging high demand is that the iPhone maker is reported to have secured more than half of the initial capacity to keep the competition at bay. The wafer manufacturer is said to expand its monthly output to 100,000 units by the end of 2026, making the cutting-edge technology a major driver for its growth.
The advantage of GAA compared to FinFET is that it incorporates a nanosheet stacking method, which makes current control more precise while also substantially reducing leakage. This enables the 2nm process to deliver between a 10-15 percent performance improvement over the same power consumption, or a 25-30 percent reduction in power consumption at a certain performance level.
Samsung has been reported to have commenced the mass production of its 2nm GAA process earlier this year, but the disclosed performance, efficiency, and area figures weren’t all that extensive compared to the older 3nm GAA node. This may be due to ‘less than optimized’ yields, and the numbers could improve over time.
Despite the Korean giant having a head start over TSMC, the latter has prioritized quality over quantity and time. According to forecasts, the Taiwanese firm’s capital expenditure in 2026 could reach between $48-$50 billion, marking a new record as it aims to counter technological barriers.
News Source: United Daily News
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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