Qualcomm reportedly discussed potential 2nm Snapdragon chip manufacturing with Samsung at CES 2026, according to Korea Economic Daily. CEO Cristiano Amon stated design work is complete, targeting commercialization soon. The partnership would mark Qualcomm's return to Samsung after five years.
Samsung's 2nm GAA wafers cost $20,000, undercutting TSMC's $30,000 pricing. This price advantage could generate approximately $470 million from Qualcomm orders. Samsung will allocate 10 percent of Hwaseong S3 fab capacity for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 production.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 reportedly costs $280 per unit. Samsung's 2nm yields started at 50 percent but have improved through process refinements. The company secured a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla for AI6 chips and additional cryptocurrency mining orders.
Qualcomm's dual-foundry strategy reduces dependence on TSMC, which reportedly faces capacity constraints from Apple and NVIDIA orders according to industry reports. Samsung's Texas manufacturing facilities offer supply chain diversification and tariff advantages over Taiwan-based production.
Samsung's foundry business demonstrates recovery after previous yield challenges. The company also landed a $100 million deal with a U.S. AI firm for 4nm production. Technical improvements in second-generation 2nm nodes address earlier thermal and performance issues.
The partnership could reshape Android flagship distribution. Samsung Galaxy S26 series might feature custom Snapdragon chips manufactured in-house, potentially ending regional variations between Snapdragon and Exynos variants. For more details on the upcoming flagship, see our Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra coverage.
Apple's A20 chip for iPhone 18 reportedly costs around $280 per unit, roughly 80% more than the A19 chip in iPhone 17, with similar pricing expected for Qualcomm and MediaTek 2nm processors. These cost increases will likely push 2026 flagship smartphone prices higher.
Samsung's stock reportedly rose on news of potential Qualcomm orders, according to financial news reports. The foundry market now offers two competitive options for advanced 2nm production, breaking TSMC's near-monopoly on cutting-edge mobile chips.
Neither company has officially confirmed production agreements. The discussions represent ongoing negotiations rather than finalized contracts. Samsung must demonstrate consistent high-volume yields to secure long-term Qualcomm business.
