- Looks like Qualcomm doesn't want TSMC to handle all its 2nm chipsets and rather put some volume on Samsung Foundry.
- Samsung is likely to generate $4Bn in revenue from Qualcomm a month after minting 2,000 wafers of it's 2nm node towards Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 SoCs.
- This is a big undertaking given Samsung has suffered thermal issues and low yield with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 back in 2022 although the 2nm node could pose beneficial.
Qualcomm is reportedly in discussions with Samsung Foundry to manufacture upcoming 2nm Snapdragon chipsets, according to a trusted industry tipster. The talks suggest Qualcomm is exploring ways to broaden its manufacturing partnerships as it prepares its next wave of flagship processors.
The tipster notes that these Samsung-produced chips could arrive alongside versions made by TSMC, giving Qualcomm multiple production options for the same platforms. If the plan moves forward, it could strengthen Qualcomm’s supply chain resilience while helping Samsung expand its presence in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Qualcomm and Samsung are working together to fab 2nm Snapdragon chipsets
According to Digital Chat Station (DCS), Qualcomm is collaborating with TSMC to manufacture two chipsets, designated as SM8950 and SM8975, which are aptly named Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 Pro. What’s interesting is the fact that Qualcomm is also in talks with Samsung Foundry to fab 2nm chipsets as either new versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 or Gen6, probably using the SF2P process.
Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amano was reported to have said Samsung Electronics has been contracted to work alongside Qualcomm and has already completed the design for 2nm Snapdragon chipsets, paving the way for performance modifications. The South Korean chipmaker has allocated 10 percent of its S3 production capacity towards the chipsets, i.e., either Gen5 or Gen6, which stands around 2,000 wafers a month.
But there’s a history…
Samsung and Qualcomm’s relationship is not new. The 2022 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC was minted by Samsung and received a lot of criticism for its thermal issues. This is probably one of the reasons why Qualcomm moved to TSMC for its chipsets and has been doing so for years now. Cut to now, Qualcomm’s collaboration with Samsung is probably a result of the latter releasing a 2nm Exynos SoC powering the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Series.
Of course, Samsung is also trying to make its chip division profitable, and Qualcomm’s involvement could generate a revenue of $4 billion every month.
We know a bit about Snapdragon 8 Gen6 SoC, though.
Snapdragon 8 Gen6/Gen6 Pro are expected to arrive with a 2+3+3 CPU architecture, paired with an Adreno 850 GPU, LPDDR6 support (on the Pro version), and will be based on TSMC’s N2P process. Although nothing is set in stone, if Samsung is contracted with minting Gen6 chipsets, we could see a 2nm SF2P process in the works, and the 2nm Snapdragon chipsets could be produced under different model numbers.
Qualcomm’s 2nm Snapdragon chipset release timeline
Historically, a new flagship iteration from Snapdragon comes every September or October, and we don’t think the year 2026 would be any exception. We will see Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 and Gen6 Pro during this frame, at least fabbed by TSMC. Whether and when the Samsung-made chipsets arrive is still shrouded in mystery. In any case, we can expect the upcoming chipsets to bring up to an 18% boost in performance, if everything goes as planned.
