While TSMC will begin manufacturing the A14 process in 2028, it is also preparing an intermediary A16 node, a 1.6nm process featuring a new backside power delivery system that simplifies chip design and improves energy efficiency. This node will bridge the gap between the 2nm and 1.4nm generations, providing incremental gains before the next major jump. Meanwhile, TSMC's only serious competitor in this space, Samsung, has reportedly paused its own 1.4nm plans, leaving TSMC in a strong position to dominate the sub-2nm race through the end of the decade.