Samsung has denied rumors of defects in its 3-nanometer (3nm) foundry process, calling the claims “groundless.”
Reports indicated production issues that might force reliance on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for the Galaxy S25 series, as highlighted by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but Samsung has firmly refuted these allegations.
Defect in Samsung Foundry’s 3nm Process Node
A defect in Samsung Foundry’s second-generation 3nm process node, as reported by THE CHOSUN Daily, impacted 2,500 lots (65,000 monthly 12-inch wafers), resulting in approximately KRW 1 trillion ($720 million) in losses.
The wafers were allegedly discarded due to defects, though there are conflicting reports on whether all wafers were indeed discarded, with the situation still being assessed.
Samsung’s capacity for the second-generation 3nm chip fabrication process stands at 60,000 sheets per month. The company has implemented several inspection processes to prevent large-scale defects.
Potential Use of Exynos 2500 in Galaxy S25
According to The Financial News, Samsung Electronics might introduce its Exynos 2500 mobile application processor (AP) in the Galaxy S25, increasing the likelihood compared to earlier reports of solely using Snapdragon processors.
Previous reports indicated the Exynos 2500 yield was around 20%, but new information from tipster Panda Flash suggests it could yield over 40%. For mass production, a yield of at least 60% is generally required.
MediaTek’s Dimensity Chip Consideration
The report also suggests that Samsung is considering MediaTek’s Dimensity chip for the Galaxy S25 series to improve its negotiating position with Qualcomm, which plans to raise Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 prices by 25-30%. This could also address the low yields of the Exynos 2500.
Samsung has never used a three-SoC mix in its flagship phones or equipped its premium phones with a MediaTek chip. Given the lack of other leaks, this report should be taken cautiously.
The Galaxy S25 launch is more than six months away, allowing time for potential changes.