Samsung has slashed wafer prices for its 2nm (SF2) process to around $20,000, undercutting TSMC's rumored $30,000 pricing by one-third, according to DigiTimes. The move marks an aggressive step as Samsung struggles to secure major customers beyond its in-house Exynos 2600 processor, which is expected to adopt its 2nm technology.

Industry analysts note that Samsung's 2nm yield rates remain below 30% but are targeted to improve to 70% by year-end. Despite early setbacks—including delayed production at its new Texas fab due to weak demand—Samsung is betting that competitive pricing will help fill its advanced production lines and avoid underutilization.

The company has also secured a significant boost from Tesla, which signed a KRW 22 trillion ($16.5 billion) foundry deal in August. Under the agreement, Samsung will manufacture Tesla's "AI6" high-performance chips on its second-generation 2nm process (SF2P) in the U.S. starting in 2026. The chips are expected to power Tesla's next-generation full self-driving systems, robotics, and data centers, potentially driving yield improvements through close collaboration.

By contrast, TSMC has yet to begin mass production of its own 2nm node but has already locked in more than 15 customers, including Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Broadcom, Google, and Amazon. KLA executive Ahmad Khan recently noted that 10 of these clients are focused on high-performance computing applications.

While Samsung's pricing strategy could attract customers unwilling or unable to pay TSMC's premium rates, analysts suggest it may not be enough to overcome TSMC's technological lead and established customer base. Still, with global advanced chip capacity stretched thin and demand from AI, HPC, and automotive sectors surging, Samsung's $20,000-per-wafer offer could emerge as a compelling alternative.