In 2026, leading chipset manufacturers, including Qualcomm, are poised to debut their first 2nm System on Chips (SoCs). Qualcomm’s flagship, likely named the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, is expected to be at the forefront. However, rumors suggest the exorbitant cost of mass-producing wafers on this advanced lithography may prevent many of Qualcomm’s partners from adopting this high-end chip for their premium devices. To navigate this, Qualcomm might release two versions, echoing Apple’s strategy with its A18 and A18 Pro.
Qualcomm is also exploring a dual-sourcing approach, potentially collaborating with Samsung for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3. Digital Chat Station has hinted that Apple, MediaTek, and Qualcomm might need to increase chipset prices due to the rising costs of 2nm wafer production. TSMC, a leading manufacturer, started taking orders for this process, with prices around $30,000 per unit. This steep cost makes Qualcomm’s partners cautious, leading to speculations on Weibo about two variants of next year’s flagship SoC.
The high-end variant, likely labeled ‘SM8950’, will be reserved for top-tier devices, appealing to tech enthusiasts seeking the latest innovations. Meanwhile, the SM8945 could be similar to Apple’s A18 or A19, offering core flagship features but with reduced specifications like smaller cache, and lower CPU and GPU clock speeds. Relying exclusively on one foundry isn’t ideal for Qualcomm, but limited options mean they must navigate this carefully.
Qualcomm is considering a revival of dual sourcing by leveraging technologies from both Samsung and TSMC. Although Samsung has struggled with production yields, there are hopes that improvements will come soon. Both the LSI and foundry divisions at Samsung are working to increase 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) yields to 50 percent, with the aim of further enhancing this to enable viable mass production.
There have been rumors of successful discussions between Qualcomm and Samsung regarding the production of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy devices. The official launch later this year should provide more clarity. Many phone manufacturers lacking the resources to develop in-house solutions will likely have to rely on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, even if it means opting for a less powerful version, while absorbing cost increases or passing them onto consumers.
