Qualcomm Reportedly Tests Samsung's 2nm Process for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Chip
While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is being manufactured in TSMC's 3nm foundry, new reports from South Korean media indicate that Qualcomm might also be testing a version of the flagship chip produced via Samsung's new 2nm (SF2) manufacturing process. This is the first time Qualcomm has simultaneously tested a flagship processor with two leading companies.
Qualcomm's Dual-Sourcing Strategy
Top Strategy Advantages of this Move For Qualcomm:
- Direct Comparison of Production Efficiency and Performance between TSMC and Samsung.
- Diversification of Manufacturing Partners Reduces Supply Chain Risks.
- Qualcomm negotiating power with TSMC greatly increase as a result, possibly leading to cheaper rates.
Reports suggest that Samsung is pursuing major clients by providing them across-the-board pricing with their 2nm technology to regain market shares; hence, the race between the vendors may bring down costs in the remaining flagship mobile processors to come.
GAA The Technology of the Future
Key within the Samsung 2nm process includes Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture. This advanced circuitry allows for a much finer pinning down of electrical current flows, allowing for quite pronounced improvements via both increased performance and power efficiency. Samsung is also expected to use the same GAA technology in the coming Exynos 2600 chipsets, which will likely debut in the Galaxy S26 series.
Potential for Samsung Exclusivity
There is a likelihood that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chips produced from the 2nm process of Samsung will be dedicated entirely to the future Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Thus, this would give an exclusive hardware advantage of this type of devices but will still be left in a broader market TSMC version.
