Qualcomm may be preparing a surprising shift in its chip manufacturing strategy, as CEO Cristiano Amon has confirmed that the company is in discussions with Samsung regarding the production of its upcoming 2nm chips.
While Samsung has declined to officially comment on the matter, the development has sparked significant interest across the semiconductor industry.
The talks are notable given the recent challenges faced by Samsung’s foundry division. The last time Samsung manufactured Qualcomm-designed processors was in 2022 with the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. That chipset faced widespread criticism due to thermal inefficiencies and power management issues. In addition, Samsung reportedly struggled to meet Qualcomm’s yield requirements, prompting the US-based chipmaker to shift production to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for subsequent flagship processors.
Now, however, Qualcomm appears to be reconsidering Samsung as a manufacturing partner, particularly for next-generation 2nm chips. According to sources familiar with the situation, Qualcomm has already finalized the chip design and is ready to move into the production phase. This suggests that discussions with Samsung have progressed beyond early-stage negotiations.
For Samsung, securing Qualcomm as a 2nm customer would be a major win. The company has been working aggressively to revive its foundry business, which has lagged behind TSMC in both yield and customer confidence. Samsung’s leadership has reportedly tasked the head of its semiconductor division with the challenge of restoring profitability and competitiveness in the foundry segment.
Recent developments indicate that Samsung’s efforts may be starting to pay off. The company has signed new supply agreements with multiple clients, improving the outlook for its advanced chip manufacturing operations. Most notably, Tesla recently struck a deal with Samsung for the production of high-end chips designed for artificial intelligence applications, boosting confidence in Samsung’s advanced node capabilities.
Despite the renewed optimism, several questions remain unanswered. It is still unclear whether Samsung would manufacture Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processors or if the potential partnership would involve a different class of chips altogether. Qualcomm may also choose a dual-sourcing strategy, splitting production between Samsung and TSMC to reduce risk.
While no final agreement has been announced, Qualcomm’s willingness to reopen talks with Samsung signals a potentially significant shift in the semiconductor landscape. If finalized, the deal could reshape competition in the 2nm era and mark a turning point for Samsung’s foundry ambitions.