Samsung Delays 1.4nm to 2029, Focuses on 2nm

Samsung Electronics' foundry division officially announced on July 1 that the launch of its 1.4nm semiconductor manufacturing process will be postponed to 2029—two years later than its original 2027 target.

The update was shared at the “SAFE Forum 2025” held in Seoul, where Samsung's Vice President of Foundry Design Platform Development, Shin Jong-shin, outlined the company's revised roadmap. The new timeline puts Samsung a year behind competitor TSMC, which plans to begin 1.4nm production in 2028.

This strategic shift comes amid operating losses in Samsung's foundry business, driven by reduced fab utilization rates following the exit of key customers from advanced nodes. The company reportedly recorded a loss of approximately 4 trillion KRW in 2023 alone.

To stabilize its foundry operations, Samsung confirmed that volume production for its 2nm process node (SF2) remains on schedule for later this year. Beyond that, the company will prioritize the development and optimization of second- and third-generation 2nm technologies (SF2P and SF2X) through 2028.

Additionally, Samsung aims to enhance profitability by increasing utilization rates for its relatively mature and stable 4nm, 5nm, and 8nm processes. To support this plan, the company has encouraged ecosystem partners to accelerate the development of design assets (IP) tailored to these nodes.

On the same day, automotive chipmaker Telechips and AI processor firm Rebellions announced their collaboration with Samsung Foundry, highlighting growing customer adoption.

Industry analysts note that Samsung's foundry currently lags TSMC in process competitiveness, and the delay in 1.4nm production signals a strategic decision to focus on execution rather than rushing to claim technological leadership.