Qualcomm is currently in negotiations with Samsung Electronics regarding a potential shift in its manufacturing strategy for the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 mobile platform. The company is considering moving away from its exclusive reliance on TSMC to a dual-foundry model that would involve both TSMC and Samsung.
Since 2022, Qualcomm has utilized TSMC exclusively for its flagship processors to avoid previous issues with yield rates and thermal performance associated with Samsung-manufactured chips. However, rising production costs at TSMC and limited capacity have led Qualcomm to re-evaluate its supply chain strategy to mitigate risks.
Under the proposed plan, Qualcomm may segment production based on chip specifications. High-end versions with strict efficiency requirements would likely remain with TSMC, while standard models could be produced using Samsung’s latest 2nm process technology. Samsung has recently focused on improving yield rates and thermal management.
This potential partnership follows direct discussions between Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Samsung executives in South Korea. While the dual-foundry approach aims to balance supply chain dependencies and control material costs, the final manufacturing allocation and production schedules remain unconfirmed.
