Samsung Reportedly Targets MediaTek as Its Next Big Foundry Customer in Push Against TSMC
Samsung appears to be stepping up its efforts to challenge TSMC in the global chip manufacturing race, and MediaTek may be its next major target.
According to recent industry reports from Taiwan, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong traveled to Taiwan on May 21 with a senior executive team. The visit was reportedly kept low-profile, but one key purpose was said to be a meeting with MediaTek CEO Cai Lixing. If accurate, the move suggests Samsung is actively trying to win over one of TSMC’s most important customers.
Samsung has been working hard to rebuild momentum in its foundry business. After reportedly securing production work related to Tesla’s AI6 chip and pursuing AMD for future 2nm manufacturing, the company now seems to be looking toward MediaTek, a major force in mobile processors and the maker of the Dimensity chip lineup.
For Samsung, landing MediaTek would be a major breakthrough. MediaTek relies heavily on advanced semiconductor manufacturing for its smartphone chipsets, and TSMC has long been its preferred manufacturing partner. Convincing MediaTek to shift even part of its production to Samsung would strengthen Samsung’s foundry credibility and put new pressure on TSMC.
One interesting detail in the report is Samsung’s potential bargaining chip: memory supply. Samsung is one of the world’s largest memory chip makers, and it may offer MediaTek more favorable access to advanced memory products for future Dimensity-class mobile platforms. This strategy would allow Samsung to compete not only on chip manufacturing technology but also on the strength of its broader semiconductor ecosystem.
Samsung has reportedly used similar tactics in the past when trying to attract major chip clients such as Qualcomm. By combining foundry services with access to memory technology, Samsung can offer a more complete package than many rivals. That could be especially appealing at a time when AI smartphones, edge computing, and high-performance mobile chips are driving demand for tighter integration between processors and memory.
The timing may also work in Samsung’s favor. MediaTek’s relationship with TSMC is still strong, but recent developments suggest the company is willing to diversify parts of its supply chain. MediaTek is said to be involved as a key design partner for Google’s 8th-generation Tensor Processing Units, with advanced packaging work split between different manufacturing partners. Intel reportedly received the packaging contract for the inference-focused version, while TSMC kept packaging work for the training-focused model.
That does not mean MediaTek is ready to walk away from TSMC. Far from it. TSMC remains the dominant player in advanced chip manufacturing, with deep experience, strong yields, and a massive customer base. For Samsung, convincing MediaTek to move significant production away from TSMC would still be a difficult challenge.
However, Samsung’s foundry business appears to be gaining renewed confidence. Its push into AI chips, advanced 2nm manufacturing, and high-profile customer negotiations signals a broader strategy: win trust from major semiconductor companies and reduce TSMC’s grip on the most valuable chip contracts.
If Samsung can secure even a partial MediaTek order, it would be an important symbolic and commercial victory. It would show that major fabless chip designers are open to alternatives, especially as demand for AI processors, mobile SoCs, and advanced packaging continues to surge.
For now, the reported Samsung-MediaTek talks should be treated as part of a wider industry battle rather than a confirmed shift in production. Still, the message is clear: Samsung is no longer content to sit quietly behind TSMC. It wants a larger share of the advanced foundry market, and MediaTek could become a key piece of that strategy.
