September 17, 2026 / SemiMedia / — Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm have reopened discussions over 2nm chip production, with the two companies reviewing product specifications, foundry pricing and process optimization as Qualcomm evaluates its manufacturing strategy for future flagship processors.

Their flagship chip manufacturing relationship weakened after the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which was produced on Samsung's 4nm process. Qualcomm subsequently shifted its leading Snapdragon platforms toward TSMC beginning with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is also manufactured by TSMC.

The renewed discussions follow improvements in Samsung's 2nm Gate-All-Around process. Korean industry estimates indicate that yields for Samsung's SF2 and SF2P processes have risen substantially from roughly 20% in the second half of 2025 and are now estimated in the 50% to 60% range, although reported yield figures continue to vary across industry sources.

Qualcomm is expected to introduce its next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 lineup at its Snapdragon Summit beginning September 22. Industry reports have suggested that the company has evaluated a dual-sourcing strategy using both TSMC and Samsung as it seeks additional advanced-node capacity and more competitive manufacturing economics.

No production agreement has been finalized. More recent reports indicate that the 2nm process under discussion has not encountered major technical issues, while pricing has emerged as a key point in negotiations. Qualcomm is reportedly seeking lower foundry pricing, while Samsung has become less willing to compete primarily through discounted contracts.

Capacity availability could also influence the decision. TSMC's advanced-node production remains highly utilized, with early 2nm capacity serving major customers including Apple and strong AI demand continuing to absorb capacity at other leading-edge nodes.

Whether Qualcomm ultimately adopts Samsung's 2nm process, TSMC alone, or a dual-sourcing model remains unresolved. For Samsung Foundry, securing a flagship Qualcomm program would provide an important external validation of the stability and competitiveness of its 2nm manufacturing platform.