Exploring a return to Samsung Foundry, Qualcomm weighs 2nm chip production amid efforts to strengthen advanced manufacturing.
Qualcomm may be preparing a return to Samsung Foundry for the production of its next generation 2nm chips, following comments by CEO Cristiano Amon indicating that talks are under way between the two companies. Samsung has declined to comment, but sources familiar with the matter suggest Qualcomm has completed the chip design and is ready to move towards manufacturing, marking a potentially significant shift in its foundry strategy.
If finalised, the move would be notable given Qualcomm’s earlier decision to switch away from Samsung. The last Qualcomm chips produced by Samsung were the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors launched in 2022, which faced criticism over thermal performance and power efficiency. At the time, Samsung’s foundry reportedly struggled to meet Qualcomm’s yield and efficiency requirements, prompting the US chipmaker to shift high end production to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
The renewed engagement comes as Samsung works to revive its underperforming foundry business. The company’s chip division leadership has been tasked with restoring profitability, and recent supply agreements have offered signs of improvement. A high profile deal with Tesla to manufacture advanced chips for artificial intelligence applications has helped strengthen confidence in Samsung’s advanced node capabilities.
Despite the apparent progress, uncertainty remains over the scope of the potential partnership. It is not yet clear whether Samsung would be responsible for producing Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processors or if the discussions relate to a different 2nm product line.
With competition intensifying at advanced process nodes, Qualcomm’s talks with Samsung underline the strategic importance of diversifying manufacturing options as the industry moves towards 2nm technology.
