Qualcomm ditching TSMC for Samsung? First 2nm Snapdragon for Android could emulate Exynos

If you are planning to buy a new phone/tablet in 2026-2027, you might want to know that Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon recently touched down in South Korea for high-level meetings with Samsung Electronics.

The primary agenda? Negotiating the fabrication of Qualcomm’s first 2nm chip for phones and tablets - the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip, expected to power phones like the Xiaomi 18, OnePlus 16, and Samsung’s own Galaxy S27 series.

If finalized, this deal would mark Qualcomm’s return to Samsung Foundry for flagship silicon for the first time since the 2022 thermal issues of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, leaving TSMC behind. Sources suggest Samsung has significantly rehabilitated its image, with its second-generation 2nm yields reportedly reaching the 50-55% threshold - a major leap from previous 3nm struggles.

Qualcomm’s pivot is likely driven by TSMC’s skyrocketing 2nm wafer prices, which are rumored to be 30% higher than current 3nm nodes. By dual-sourcing or switching to Samsung, Qualcomm gains important leverage and supply chain security for the 2026-2027 flagship cycle.

Xiaomi has consistently secured the "first" spot for Qualcomm’s flagship launches, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 debuting in the Xiaomi 13, the Gen 3 in the Xiaomi 14, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Xiaomi 15. The latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 premiered in September 2025 with the Xiaomi 17 series, so it won’t be a surprise if the 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 shows up when the Xiaomi 18 does.