TSMC Moves Ahead With Plans for Sub-1.4nm Manufacturing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has given the green light to an expansion of its manufacturing facilities, clearing the way for production technologies beyond its upcoming 1.4-nanometer manufacturing process.

This comes just as a research note from investment firm Piper Sandler says Intel’s 14A process, also 1.4nm, is currently being evaluated by Amazon, Apple, AMD, Google, Tesla, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm.

This reflects how 1.4nm is becoming the target platform for both manufacturing giants, and that Intel’s IDM strategy is finally starting to pay off. Getting customers on board for its manufacturing process had been slow, painful, and cost Pat Gelsinger his job as CEO, but now it’s proving to be competitive with TSMC.

But don’t be expecting 1.4nm chips anytime soon. Intel’s 18A process is just barely ramping up. TSMC is skipping the 1.8 process and going directly from 2nm straight to 1.4nm. Its planned expansion is expected to include three factories, with A14 volume production targeted for 2028.

TSMC’s A14 process represents the company’s next major step after its 2nm technology. The company is expected to use the process to deliver improvements in transistor density, performance and energy efficiency compared with its N2 generation.

Beyond A14, TSMC is already discussing technologies that would move the company below the 1.4nm-class threshold. Such processes will require further advances in transistor structures, power delivery, lithography, materials and manufacturing equipment.

TSMC is also expanding its 2nm manufacturing capacity, with an enhanced 2nm process due this year. The company’s aggressive capacity buildout reflects strong demand from customers developing processors for AI, smartphones, PCs and other high-performance applications.

For its part, Intel’s 14A process generation is scheduled to begin initial production in 2027, followed by high-volume manufacturing in 2028.

With both companies pursuing 1.4nm-class technologies and looking beyond them, the next several years are likely to determine whether Intel can establish itself as a significant alternative to TSMC—or whether TSMC can maintain its manufacturing lead as the industry moves into the sub-1.4nm era.