Samsung is refining its 2nm GAA process, sparking speculation about its collaboration with Qualcomm on the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2. Initially, it seemed Samsung had lost its position as Qualcomm’s foundry partner, but recent updates suggest a different story. Rumors indicate that the 2nm GAA version of this chip is still in play, hinting at Qualcomm’s continued dual-sourcing strategy.
This version is believed to be more cost-effective, which might encourage Qualcomm to maintain its partnership with Samsung. Many key players still prefer TSMC, but Samsung’s advancements could make it an appealing option with competitive pricing to secure future collaborations.
Samsung is fully committed to enhancing its 2nm GAA node, focusing on improving yields, performance, and efficiency to compete with TSMC. Although pricing details for Samsung’s advanced lithography are scarce, insights indicate that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and the Dimensity 9500, set to launch later this year, won’t be much pricier than their predecessors.
A well-known tipster suggests that Samsung will still be involved in manufacturing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2. The absence of price hikes could result from Qualcomm and MediaTek using TSMC’s 3nm node. However, Samsung’s participation might also contribute significantly to this strategy. With TSMC’s 2nm production expected to surge next year, prices for flagship chipsets are likely to increase, potentially leading Qualcomm to adjust customer pricing.
Qualcomm seems to acknowledge necessary changes, keeping Samsung’s version as a potential cost-saving measure when transitioning to more advanced technology. There are also rumors about dual versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, but take this with caution as more updates will follow.
