Qualcomm may still stick with its dual-sourcing strategy for the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, despite rumors that it was moving away from Samsung. According to recent updates from tipster Digital Chat Station, Samsung’s 2nm GAA version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 hasn’t been scrapped, suggesting that Qualcomm is still in talks with Samsung for production.
This twist comes after earlier reports claiming that Qualcomm had dropped Samsung as its foundry partner.
Samsung has reportedly been working on improving its 2nm GAA node, aiming for better yields and performance. The company is focused on refining its technology to be more competitive with TSMC, which is currently the go-to foundry for most major semiconductor companies. If successful, Samsung could offer a more competitive price for its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 version, which could be cheaper than the TSMC version.
Despite the ongoing improvements to Samsung’s process, Qualcomm is still expected to stick with TSMC’s 3nm process for this generation. However, future iterations could see a shift, especially when TSMC’s 2nm production ramps up. In the coming years, a price hike for flagship chipsets could be inevitable as the technology becomes more advanced. Qualcomm may be keeping Samsung’s version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 in its back pocket, providing a cost-effective alternative when transitioning to next-gen technology.
For the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, rumors suggest Qualcomm could introduce two versions, following the same dual-sourcing strategy. However, until more details are confirmed, this remains speculative. As always, we’ll keep you updated with the latest developments in the world of mobile chipsets.