TSMC to Exclusively Make Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2

According to recent reports, Qualcomm has abandoned Samsung's 2nm foundry process for its next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 flagship mobile chipset. Instead, the entire production will now be exclusively handled by TSMC using its advanced N3P process node.

Previously, industry rumors suggested Qualcomm would adopt a dual-sourcing strategy. Under that plan, Samsung's 2nm process would be used for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chips destined for the Galaxy S series, while the rest would be produced using TSMC's N3P technology. However, new leaks reveal that internal identifiers for both Samsung's (SM8850-S) and TSMC's (SM8850-T) versions have been removed, signaling a complete shift to a single-vendor strategy.

This move effectively eliminates Samsung from Qualcomm's flagship chip manufacturing roadmap, reinstating TSMC as the sole foundry partner for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2. Tech outlet WCCFtech noted that only the SM8850 designation remains, which is expected to become the official product code. This shift may also result in increased pricing for Qualcomm's Reference Design (QRD) units.

Industry insiders had initially expected Qualcomm to leverage the dual-supplier model to contain production costs, especially given the premium pricing of the Snapdragon 8 Elite series. However, the latest decision suggests that Qualcomm now prioritizes yield rate and performance consistency over cost reduction.