Τ2019 is expected to be the year that most manufacturers will use processors based on the 7nm architecture in the smartphones they will build. But why do they seem to be in a hurry to turn to this architecture?
Huawei has announced the HiSilicon Kirin 980 as the first commercially available 7nm processor and Qualcomm has already announced that the next Snapdragon SoC will be based on the same architecture, while Samsung is expected to follow the same path, while Apple with the TSMC A12, which everyone is waiting for to be integrated in the iPhones that will be presented on September 12, will also be based on the same architecture.
The flagship smartphones use processors based on the 10nm architecture for two years, while the 7nm ones offer improvements in energy consumption and space saving since they consist of smaller transistors, with the negative in the whole process being their high manufacturing costs.
The 7nm processors mark the change in the manufacturing process of EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography), which is an investment in the future construction of 5nm processors and even smaller size. Companies like GlobalFoundries have announced that they will abandon the 7nm architecture due to the high cost it requires, and will focus on improving the 12nm and 14nm architecture.
Apple is expected to integrate the A12 processor into the iPhone in three days, which is made by TSMC, the company trusted by other manufacturers such as AMD and Huawei, with Qualcomm already working with them on construction of the last two processors, something that is expected to happen for the current year.
As for Samsung, it is going to make the transition to EUV processor technology at 7nm this year, at a time when it is rumored that it is already developing the Exynos 9820 which is expected to be based on this architecture, so that it is ready to be available. the Galaxy S10 with Snapdragon and Exynos at 7nm, depending of course on the market in which they will be released.
TSMC builds the first 7nm processors with existing 193nm wavelength technology before embarking on the 7FF + EUV process in early 2019. With this change, TSMC estimates that processors will consume 40% less power and take up 37% less space compared to with the current processors, which is the big incentive for all manufacturers regarding the change to the new 7nm processors.
Android smartphones that will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7nm processor are expected to appear in early 2019, at the same time as MediaTek processors based on the 7nm architecture will appear, with this delay due to their increased production costs.
Finally, it remains to be seen what the true capabilities of 7nm processors will be when integrated into the first smartphones, with Huawei confirming that the Kirin 980 will be the first commercially available 7nm processor to be integrated into the Mate 20 to be unveiled on October 16th. , and Apple to rumor that the A12 of the iPhone that will be presented on September 12 will be built with the same architecture.
