Intel 18A Yield at 50%, Trails TSMC and Samsung

According to industry reports, US semiconductor giant Intel is actively advancing its artificial intelligence (AI) chip strategy, with plans to launch a new AI chip by the end of this year. The product is expected to adopt lower-cost memory and thermal solutions, aiming to strengthen its competitive position against rivals such as NVIDIA and AMD. However, ahead of commercialization, market attention remains focused on the progress of its key advanced manufacturing process technologies.

Citing a report from Morgan Stanley, referenced by tech analyst Jukan on social media, Intel’s latest 18A advanced process is currently estimated to have a yield rate of around 50%. Although the figure is gradually improving, it is still below the level generally considered necessary for stable mass production.

Industry standards typically regard a yield rate above 60% as a key threshold for mature and scalable production. At present, Intel’s 18A process remains in an optimization phase. In contrast, the advanced process technologies of industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are reportedly achieving yields in the range of 80% to 90%, maintaining a significant lead in both manufacturing maturity and production efficiency.

Meanwhile, sources from the South Korean semiconductor industry indicate that Samsung Electronics is currently achieving an estimated yield of around 55% for its 2nm process, slightly ahead of Intel’s 18A, although the gap is relatively narrow. This highlights the increasingly intense competition in next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.

Intel CEO Chen Liwu previously stated in an interview that the company is currently improving process yields by approximately 7% to 8% per month. If this pace continues, the 18A process could gradually approach industry mass-production standards over the coming quarters.

Industry analysts note that a key inflection point for the 18A node will be achieving yields close to 80%. At that level, it becomes possible to enter standardized pricing frameworks used by major technology clients such as Apple, support wafer-level contract models, and secure long-term capacity commitments—critical conditions for full-scale commercialization.

In recent years, Intel has been restructuring its manufacturing operations with the goal of regaining leadership in advanced semiconductor process technology and expanding its foundry customer base. However, with TSMC maintaining a strong yield advantage and Samsung continuing to close the gap, the pace of yield improvement in the coming quarters will be a decisive factor in determining the success of Intel’s AI chip ambitions and broader foundry strategy.