Qualcomm may be heading back to Samsung Foundry for its future flagship silicon. Speaking at CES 2026, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed that the company has started discussions with Samsung Electronics regarding contract manufacturing for its upcoming 2nm process.
Qualcomm 2nm Chip Manufacturing Back to Samsung Foundries?
This potential partnership marks a shift for the company, which shifted its high-end production exclusively to TSMC following thermal and yield issues with the Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in 2022. Reports suggest that Qualcomm has already completed the design phase for these 2nm chips, indicating that the transition could happen sooner than expected.
The move comes as Samsung’s semiconductor division aggressively seeks to regain market share. While Samsung has declined to comment on the specific negotiations, the foundry has recently gained momentum, securing a high-profile deal with Tesla for AI-focused chips.
Diversifying its supply chain via “dual-sourcing” would also allow the company to mitigate rising manufacturing costs and production bottlenecks at TSMC. While it remains unclear if the 2nm node will debut with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 or a specialized variant, the discussions signal a renewed confidence in Samsung’s fabrication capabilities.
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