Samsung Foundry 2 nm yields improve remarkably with some major caveats

Unlike TSMC, which has already surpassed 60% yields on its 2 nm class N2 node, Samsung Foundry is yet to achieve that coveted milestone. However, a new report from South Korean News outlet Munhwa says the fledgling chipmaker is close, with yields now in the 40-50% range. This figure is remarkably higher than the estimated 30% figure reported in February. Yields, by themselves, have no significance without knowing the die size of the chip involved, but in this case, it could be around the ballpark of a smartphone SoC (~150 mm²).

This bodes well for the Exynos 2600, which is slated to power the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and likely even the Galaxy S26 Ultra next year. Additionally, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for Galaxy is also rumoured to be fabricated on the same node, but that isn't scheduled to launch until H2 2026, presumably alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8.

That said, X leaker and semiconductor analyst Jukanlosreve says this increase in yield has come with a price. Apparently, Samsung had to compromise on performance to get working chips. It means SF2 will, once again, fall behind TSMC's N2 node in terms of raw performance. This could result in a major performance disparity between the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (TSMC N3P) and the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for Galaxy.

To make matters worse, Samsung had a brief advantage with its 3 nm node being GAAFET-based, but that is no longer the case with 2 nm because N2 uses Nanosheets, which is fundamentally the same technology. Perhaps the situation might get better with its next-gen successor, SF2P, which will be advertised as its 'true' 2 nm node according to Jukanlosreve.