Chipset Maker Considers Samsung’s 2nm GAA Node Due to High Costs of TSMC’s 2nm N2P; Unconfirmed Whether Qualcomm or MediaTek

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Recent reports indicate that Apple has secured over half of TSMC’s 2nm N2 production capacity. This acquisition leaves limited options for competitors such as Qualcomm and MediaTek, who are now in a tight spot. In light of this situation, both chipset manufacturers are reportedly considering a shift to the enhanced 2nm N2P variant. This transition would enable their systems on chips (SoCs) to achieve higher CPU frequencies while ensuring sufficient supply.

Qualcomm: A Potential Shift to Samsung’s 2nm GAA Process

Among the possible candidates to migrate to Samsung’s 2nm GAA technology, Qualcomm stands out. The company has expressed interest in leveraging a dual-sourcing strategy to streamline manufacturing costs, a move not unfamiliar to industry observers.

This prospect isn’t unprecedented. Qualcomm and MediaTek have previously contemplated similar shifts to Samsung’s 2nm GAA node due to TSMC’s steep wafer pricing. However, industry analyses suggest that the timing for such a transition is less than ideal. Despite these hurdles, Qualcomm seems undeterred in its pursuit of a partnership with Samsung, having previously evaluated samples of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the 2nm GAA technology.

According to a source on Weibo, a ‘certain tech giant’ is considering a move to Samsung’s 2nm GAA process. Given that MediaTek has not been mentioned in prior reports, it is reasonable to assume that Qualcomm is the company in question. Furthermore, Apple is unlikely to be part of this discussion, as they are reportedly focused on maximizing their use of the 2nm N2P process while maintaining their commitment to the existing N2 variant.

When comparing the estimated costs of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, the latter appears significantly more affordable, estimated to be 50% cheaper. This price disparity means that Qualcomm’s partners may face costs around $280 per unit. Given these financial pressures and the exclusivity of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro to top-tier Android devices, it’s understandable why Qualcomm is exploring potential collaboration with Samsung. The unresolved question remains whether Qualcomm will proceed with this strategic shift.

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