Samsung Foundry could once again play a key role in manufacturing a variant of Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship application processor (AP).
Back in 2022, Samsung’s foundry operations struggled with poor yields—only about 35%—while producing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. In semiconductor manufacturing, the yield rate indicates the percentage of usable chips from each wafer after quality control. A low yield means higher per-unit costs, which can strain relationships with clients like Qualcomm. Due to these issues, Qualcomm shifted production of its top-tier chipsets to TSMC, which managed a significantly higher yield rate of around 70%.
To illustrate this concept: imagine paying $12 for a 10-slice pizza. If four slices are burnt and inedible, your cost per edible slice rises from $1.20 to $2.00. The same principle applies to chip yields. Qualcomm’s move to TSMC for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 helped stabilize production and costs, and since then, TSMC has carried the mantle of manufacturing Qualcomm’s high-end SoCs.
A 2nm “For Galaxy” Snapdragon Could Be Coming
TSMC is set to produce the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but recent reports suggest that Samsung Foundry might manufacture a special “For Galaxy” 2nm variant of the same processor, using its SF2 (2nm) process node. Originally, this Galaxy-exclusive chip was rumored for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series, but new information hints it could instead debut in the Galaxy Z Flip 8 next year. These “For Galaxy” chips traditionally feature slight overclocking and optimizations tailored for Samsung’s flagship smartphones.
Samsung’s Recent Foundry Strides
This year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 used Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2500 chipset, built by Samsung Foundry. Initially intended for the Galaxy S25 and S25+ (outside of the U.S., Canada, and China), the Exynos 2500 rollout faced delays due to poor 3nm yields, leading Samsung to rely fully on TSMC’s 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite for the Galaxy S25 series. However, that pause allowed Samsung Foundry to ramp up production and deliver sufficient Exynos 2500 chips for the Z Flip 7 lineup.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s chip also marked an important milestone — it utilized Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors for the first time. Unlike FinFET transistors, which wrap around three sides of the channel, GAA transistors use nanosheets that enclose all four sides. This design improves power efficiency and reduces current leakage, enabling faster and more energy-efficient SoCs.
Breaking Apple’s Process Node Streak?
Reports now suggest that Samsung has already provided Qualcomm with sample 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chips produced by its foundry. This development could end a long-standing trend in which Apple has been the first OEM to introduce each new process node:
- 2018: iPhone XS — first 7nm chip (A12 Bionic)
- 2020: iPhone 12 series — first 5nm chip (A14 Bionic)
- 2023: iPhone 15 Pro — first 3nm chip (A17 Pro)
If Samsung manages to launch phones with a 2nm chipset next year—either the Exynos 2600 in the Galaxy S26 or the 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “For Galaxy” in the Z Flip 8—it could finally break Apple’s streak.
The Key: Yield Rate at 2nm
Everything now hinges on Samsung Foundry’s ability to hit acceptable 2nm yields. Earlier reports indicated that Samsung reached around 30% yield for 2nm production—a significant step forward, but still room for improvement. If yields continue to rise, Samsung and TSMC could potentially share Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 production—TSMC handling 3nm, and Samsung handling 2nm versions.
Next year could mark the first time Samsung, not Apple, leads the next manufacturing node generation.
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