TSMC To Mass Produce 1.6nm Chips By Late 2026

TSMC could start mass producing 1.6nm chips as soon as late 2026, with the new process expected to deliver significant improvements in computing speed and energy consumption. The 1.6nm process is expected to provide an 8% to 10% increase in computing speed and a 15% to 20% decrease in energy consumption.

The company has developed a 1.6nm chip manufacturing process, which uses TSMC's backside power delivery network, known as Super Power Rail (SPR). This new architecture separates the signal wiring and power wiring, placing the power on the backside of the wafer, and is expected to reduce bottlenecks during data transmission.

TSMC plans to start mass production of the 1.6nm process in Q4 2026, with the goal of using this process as a stepping stone towards its 1.4nm process, which is expected to start mass production by 2028. The 1.6nm process is also expected to have a higher chip density, with an 8% to 10% increase compared to 2nm architecture.

## What's driving the push for smaller chips? The development of smaller chips is being driven by the need for faster and more energy-efficient computing. IBM recently developed a sub-nm architecture, with a node size of 0.7nm, which has raised the bar for chip manufacturers. However, IBM estimates that its sub-nm architecture will take five years to be ready for production, giving TSMC and other chip makers time to catch up.

## Why it matters The development of smaller chips has significant implications for the tech industry, as it enables the creation of faster, more efficient, and more powerful devices. The improved computing speed and energy efficiency of the 1.6nm process will make it an attractive option for a wide range of applications, from smartphones to data centers. As TSMC and other chip makers continue to push the boundaries of chip manufacturing, we can expect to see significant advancements in the tech industry in the coming years.