Best daily deals

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

Daily Authority: šŸ“‰ Samsung yields

Samsung Foundry issues run deep, plus how 1,000 strangers reacted to being offered a portrait photo.
By
ā€¢
April 19, 2022

šŸ§ŗ Good morning! Itā€™s National Hanging Out Day, which I thought was exciting, but actually about using a clothesline for drying laundry. Which is good and just!

Samsung Foundry problems

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 logo
Robert Triggs / Android Authority

I would say one of the hardest things in the world to do is to make next-generation semiconductors. The idea of stacking many billions of transistors into a microchip the size of a stamp to crunch numbers, along with all the layers of software that make it possible, is pretty awesome.

  • That said, itā€™s a well-established field now, with many foundries around the world, including the recently famous TSMC, along with Intel, Global Foundries, and more ā€” and of course, Samsung Foundry.
  • As part of Samsung Electronics, Samsung has long been the worldā€™s biggest memory chip manufacturer and one of the worldā€™s largest semiconductor companies, on the bleeding-edge along with TSMC and Intel.
  • But Samsung Foundry has had problems for some time with yields. One of the chip shortage issues still ongoing is related to just how poor Samsungā€™s yields have been on its advanced chips.
  • One of those is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Reports out of Korea suggest a deeply frightening yield of just 35% with its 4nm node.
  • TSMC is reportedly at 70%, a stunning difference.
  • There are whispers that some Foundry executives ā€œfabricatedā€ reports to hide these poor yields to avoid trouble, and accordingly, funds set aside to improve these yields werenā€™t used.

Itā€™s not getting any better:

  • Samsungā€™s reported problems with its 4nm node are one thing, but it has been investing in its next 3nm node for the next-generation of semiconductor chips.
  • But the yield problems continue, and Samsungā€™s reputation isnā€™t exactly improving, if the reports are even remotely accurate.
  • Hereā€™s the latest as written by my colleague Matt Milano following a report from Korean-language publication Businesspost.kr.
  • It gets a bit technical, talking about the new transistor process being established by leading foundries, but stay with it:
ā€œSamsung Foundries is dealing with sub-par yields. Itā€™s believed the initial runs of Samsungā€™s 3nm chips will be used for its own Exynos line of semiconductors, most likely the successor to the Exynos 2200. Given Samsungā€™s desire to use its own chips [in its Galaxy smartphones] and reduce reliance on Qualcomm, if the reports are true, it could lead to supply constraints for its flagship devices.
ā€œIn addition to moving from 4nm to 3nm, Samsung is also the first to use GAAFET (Gate all around FET), rather than the established FINFET (Fin FET) design.
ā€œItā€™s entirely possible that the move to GAAFET has helped contribute to Samsungā€™s problems since the new design requires a different approach. Intel tried using GAAFET with its 7nm processors before postponing the move due to similar issues to those Samsung is reportedly facing.
ā€œInterestingly, TSMC has decided not to adopt GAAFET for its 3nm semiconductors, waiting until it moves to 2nm to implement the new transistor design.ā€

In short:

  • Speculation is rife that Appleā€™s large share of TSMCā€™s advanced processes more or less forced Qualcomm to use Samsung for its current flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which has been less than spectacular in terms of its efficiency, sustained performance, and issues with heating.
  • Now rumors of problems with 3nm production at Samsung donā€™t sound great either.
  • The next step is Qualcommā€™s chips that will reportedly emerge from TSMC: the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, but made by TSMC, and likely called the 8 Gen 1 Plus.
  • The world of Android enthusiasts is very much waiting to see how the TSMC-fabricated 8 Gen 1 Plus compares to the Samsung-fabbed 8 Gen 1.

Roundup

šŸ“ø It looks like the Google Pixel 6a will be missing a camera feature, but if itā€™s the only missing feature, itā€™s all going to be okay (Android Authority).

šŸ‘ The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Pokemon Edition is a thing and coming soon. Oh boy. (Android Authority).

šŸ’³ Remember Google Wallet? Looks like itā€™s making a comeback (Android Authority).

šŸ­ Logitech Lift hands-on: A vertical mouse for the rest of us, in both right and left-hand editions (Engadget).

šŸŽ® Panic Playdate reviews are out and every reviewer loves it: The main negatives are how hard it is to get one, and no backlight for playing in the dark, but: ā€œItā€™s fun! Thereā€™s a crank! Itā€™s yellow! Creative list of games!ā€ isnā€™t a bad way to quickly understand why this thing is good (Wired).

šŸŽ NYC Apple Store employees at the Grand Central store are attempting to unionize, in a first. One demand is for a $30/hour minimum wage, and ā€œincluding higher match rates for 401(k) and enrollment into pension plans.ā€ (9to5Mac).

šŸ›° Kamala Harris announced the US will no longer conduct anti-satellite tests, basically to stop space junk problems, though other motives might be at play! (The Verge).

šŸ“ø Russiaā€™s military is on full display in Google Maps satellite view, though Google says nothing much changed, just that everyone noticed at once (Ars Technica).

šŸ‘‰ ā€œToday I learned that the FBI has an 83-page guide to internet speakā€ though it seems weirdly out of touch: BTDTGTTSAWIO is not a thing (The Verge).

šŸ’” Wow: Smart home company Insteon looks dead ā€” just like its usersā€™ smart homes. ā€œThe app and servers are dead. The CEO scrubbed his LinkedIn page. No one is responding.ā€ (Ars Technica).

šŸš— Welp: Dodge Viper wipes out in a street race with Acura Integra. As noted: ā€œNationā€™s stockpile of Vipers continues its startling downward trendā€ (Jalopnik).

Chart Tuesday

Something different: This person asked 1,000 people to take their picture on the street, for free. (Actually, they asked 1,104 people, because 104 people said no.)

Hereā€™s what happened:

photographer street
  • Most pictures were taken in Miami, in touristy spots where people are dressed up, and itā€™s believable for a few reasons: the guy is a great portrait photographer, and he livestreamed it as well.

Warmly,

Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor.