[Hardware] 2nm Wafer Pricing Expected to See a 50% Price Bump Compared to 3nm, Attributed to High Manufacturing Costs

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It has been estimated the cost of a 2nm wafer can go up by 50% from 3nm, attributed to the complexities involved in the manufacturing processes and the utilization of sophisticated equipment within the semiconductor production.

 

Utilization of Next-Gen EUV Lithography Process Along With High R&D Costs Will Make 2nm Process An Expensive One

Based on a report by International Business Strategies (via Nikkei), it is predicted that 2nm wafer pricing could reach up to US$30,000 and the process they have quoted is TSMC's N2, which is around a 50% bump from a 3nm (TSMC N3) wafer price, which is around USD$20,000.The huge price increase is attributed to the utilization of advanced next-gen EUV lithography equipment along with costs associated with fab development for 2nm production. The research firm reports that the cost to build a 2nm facility with a 50,000-wafer monthly output could reach up to US$28 billion, while a 3nm plant with the same output would cost around US$20 billion.This means that the industry adoption of the 2nm process could translate into a "negative" economic effect on consumer products, meaning that we could see a considerable price increase as well. It was reported previously that Samsung has offered a discount on its 2nm pricing to attract client interest, hence the pricing of a 2nm wafer could vary depending on how the process turns out, in terms of yield rates and the industry's adoption. Companies like Apple, which tend to utilize leading fabrication processes, will see a drastic increase in next-gen products, given that the current trend of semiconductor economics persists.In terms of the status of 2nm production, it is reported that industry giants such as Samsung and TSMC will commence mass production of their 2nm technology sometime in 2025. It is expected that with the introduction of 2nm nodes as a whole, the industry will see a rise in competition, since firms like Samsung Foundry, Intel, and TSMC are set to introduce their options almost "simultaneously" in the markets, which will make things much more interesting in terms of how each process stands out amongst the eyes of potential customers...

 

https://wccftech.com/2nm-wafer-pricing-50-percent-price-bump-compared-to-3nm/