Qualcomm considers Samsung for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 production

Qualcomm is reportedly considering Samsung as a secondary manufacturer for its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro mobile processors. While previous reports suggested TSMC would be the sole producer, Qualcomm is in discussions with Samsung to diversify its supply chain and mitigate capacity risks.

This potential shift is driven by concerns over TSMC’s 2nm production capacity, as Apple is expected to reserve a significant portion of TSMC’s output for its own chips. Samsung has recently improved its 2nm process yields to approximately 55%, compared to TSMC’s estimated 60% to 70%.

Qualcomm is seeking a yield threshold of roughly 70% for large-scale production. Current negotiations between the companies involve technical specifications, pricing, and production optimization. Samsung may serve as an alternative supplier rather than the primary manufacturer to ensure Qualcomm can meet its required production volumes.