Samsung Foundry has restarted the development of 1.4 nanometer manufacturing technology. There is no change in the target, although the work that the company had previously slowed down due to production efficiency problems has accelerated again. Samsung plans to start mass production on the 1.4 nm process in 2029. The company has recently given its priority to increasing efficiency rates in the 2 nm production process and therefore temporarily prioritized the development of more advanced production technologies.
Samsung’s initial plan was to bring the 1.4 nm production technology to mass production in 2027. However, due to efficiency problems on the foundry side, the company updated its road map. According to sources, while 1.4 nm development activities were stopped for a short time in early 2025, engineering teams focused on maturing 2 nm production processes called SF2 and SF2P. It is stated that following this approach, Samsung achieved an improvement in its production performance and received an order for AI6 artificial intelligence chips worth approximately $16.5 billion from Tesla. The chips in question are planned to be used in Tesla’s cars, artificial intelligence servers and humanoid robot projects.
Samsung accelerates investments in new equipment
According to the news of South Korea-based The Bell, Samsung Foundry has restarted preparations for the commercialization of 1.4 nm production technology. In this context, the company asked business partners that develop semiconductor production equipment, such as Applied Materials and Lam Research, to develop new generation special production systems. The equipment to be produced is expected to be delivered to Samsung’s advanced semiconductor research and development center NRD-K campus in Giheung.
This center plays a critical role not only in foundry activities, but also in Samsung’s memory chip development efforts. It is stated that the new production equipment will be used in the development of both advanced logic chips and memory products. Thus, the company aims to benefit more efficiently from the common infrastructure in different semiconductor business lines.
In addition, ASML’s High NA EUV lithography systems, one of Samsung’s most advanced production tools, have also been installed at the NRD-K facility. It is stated that these machines, which are among the most advanced lithography solutions in the industry, will be used in certain layers in the 1.4 nm production process. High NA EUV technology is among the important technologies that can increase the efficiency of next-generation production processes while allowing the production of smaller transistors with more precision.
On the other hand, Samsung is behind its competitors in the 1.4 nm race. While Intel is expected to bring its 1.4 nm class production technology to mass production in 2027, TSMC is reportedly planning to launch a similar production process in 2028. This chart shows that Samsung is ahead of its competitors by about one to two years. Despite this, the company seems to have accelerated its investments in more advanced technologies, based on the progress it has recently achieved in the 2 nm production process.
However, it is stated that Samsung continues its work not only on logic chips but also on memory technologies. It is stated that the company has started orders for the equipment required for the production of the new generation V12 NAND flash memory. Full-scale mass production of this new memory technology, which will be based on a multi-wafer stacking structure, is expected to start in 2030. These studies on the NAND side are expected to play an important role in the next generation products to be developed for artificial intelligence servers, data centers and high-capacity storage solutions.
Samsung Foundry’s resumption of 1.4 nm development studies reveals that the company has not given up its long-term goals on advanced production technologies. However, the key factor that will determine the company’s success in the coming years will not only be its ability to achieve smaller production geometries, but also its ability to implement these processes sustainably with high efficiency and on a commercial scale. Especially considering the strong competition from TSMC and Intel, it is critical for Samsung to improve both its production performance and customer portfolio in the coming period.