New Rumor: Qualcomm Drops Samsung as Foundry Partner for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, TSMC Becomes Exclusive Supplier after 8850-S & 8850-T Identifiers Removal

Qualcomm is reportedly reassessing its plans for the long-anticipated Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chipset, originally intended to include two separate versions. One of these variations, known by the codename ‘Kaanapali S, ’ was under development using Samsung’s advanced 2nm GAA fabrication process. However, recent rumors suggest that Qualcomm may choose to consolidate its approach and eliminate the dual-variant strategy during the upcoming Snapdragon Summit, set for September 23. If true, this would result in TSMC continuing to hold exclusive production rights for the flagship SoC, following Qualcomm’s decision to phase out identifiers for the 8850-S and 8850-T models associated with Samsung and TSMC, respectively.

A Single Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2: SM8850

Initially, there were expectations that Qualcomm could maintain competitive pricing for its Snapdragon 8 Elite series. However, insights from industry insider @Jukanlosreve indicate that the removal of the aforementioned identifiers has solidified the expectation that only a single variant, designated as SM8850, will be released. This variant will power flagship smartphones, including the anticipated Samsung Galaxy S26 series that was previously expected to utilize the 2nm GAA technology.

The ramifications of this development suggest that, despite the promising prospects of Samsung’s 2nm process, yield issues could have contributed to Qualcomm’s shift away from Samsung’s manufacturing capabilities. Insufficient production yield could lead to a substantial increase in costs, as any defective Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 units would have to be compensated for, potentially driving up the prices charged to smartphone manufacturers.

As of the writing date, Qualcomm has already removed the distinguishing identifiers for 8850-S and 8850-T. The Samsung version has now been completely removed from the current specifications, and it appears the Samsung version has been provisionally discontinued for the time… https://t.co/Ye033GyH1U pic.twitter.com/MMEFNz1032

— Jukan Choi (@Jukanlosreve) July 4, 2025

In the context of Samsung’s recent initiatives, the prototype mass production of the Exynos 2600 began last month, targeting a 50% yield for the 2nm GAA process. For Qualcomm’s collaboration with Samsung to be sustainable, this figure ideally needs to rise to at least 70%.Despite Samsung’s efforts to enhance these yields, Qualcomm’s decision may stem from concerns about the latter’s ability to reach this benchmark, leading to the apprehension of increased manufacturing costs due to potentially higher defect rates.

Currently, the SM8850 stands as the sole variant for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2. The related Qualcomm Reference Design chip, also referred to as QRD8850, is predicted to cost approximately $15, 000, presenting financial challenges for phone manufacturers intending to test their next-generation devices. At present, Qualcomm is committed to exclusively releasing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 through TSMC’s state-of-the-art third-generation 3nm process, known as ‘N3P’.Should Samsung re-enter Qualcomm’s production plans, updates will be provided to our audience.

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