Intel has just reported its Q3 earnings, delivering stronger than expected results and major revival of operational income. During the conference call after the earnings were published, Intel reassured its investors that the company is working with good, predictable 18A yields. In addition to 18A, the company confirmed that 14A node development is shaping up to be a leading-edge node co-designed with customers. CFO David Zinsner confirmed "We are making steady progress on Intel 18A. We are on track to bring Panther Lake to market this year. Intel 18A yields are progressing at a predictable rate, and Fab 52 in Arizona, which is dedicated to high-volume manufacturing, is now fully operational. In addition, we are advancing our work on Intel 18A, and we continue to hit our PDK milestones. Our Intel 18A family is the foundation for at least the next three generations of client and server products."

Adding to that, the CFO commented on 18A yields : "I wouldn't say Intel 18A yields are in a bad place. They're where we want them to be at this point. We had a goal for the end of the year, and they're going to hit that goal. To be fully accretive in terms of the cost structure of Intel 18A, we need the yields to be better. That's like every process. That's what happens. It's going to take all of next year, I think, to really get to a place where that's the case." For Intel, 18A yields are now at a very low defect rate where manufacturing even some of the bigger dies is not a problem or financial burden. However, as every node, it matures over time where defect rates are constantly reduced to increase operating margin and reduce waste dies. Hence, Intel is still investing into the 18A refinement, and the node will stick for a very long time.