Qualcomm and MediaTek Eye Shift of 2nm Chipset Production to Samsung Due to TSMC Price Increases Impacting Profits

Samsung has recently begun mass production of its Exynos 2600 chip utilizing the innovative 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. This advancement is expected to enhance various models within the Galaxy S26 lineup. Notably, this development could offer significant financial advantages to Qualcomm and MediaTek, especially as they seek new partnerships with foundries that can counteract the escalating costs imposed by TSMC.

TSMC’s Significant Price Increase for Semiconductor Processes

Rumors indicate that TSMC plans to implement a staggering 50% price increase for its 2nm manufacturing process. While there are conflicting reports suggesting that wafer prices will remain stable at approximately $30, 000 each, the company is expected to hike prices for its 3nm ‘N3E’ and ‘N3P’ technologies to around $25, 000 and $27, 000, respectively. Given these rising costs, Qualcomm and MediaTek are actively seeking alternatives as they prepare to transition to the 2nm technology in the coming year. According to reports from Chosun, both companies are turning their attention to Samsung as a potential production partner.

Qualcomm has already shown signs of collaboration with Samsung, considering a 2nm GAA version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for upcoming flagship devices. Meanwhile, MediaTek is also making strides, having announced the successful tape-out of its first 2nm system-on-chip (SoC) slated for release in 2026, although specific plans were not detailed in recent announcements.

The pricing landscape for leading chipsets is becoming increasingly pivotal. For instance, the current prices for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 stand at $280 and $200, respectively. As projections suggest that the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could exceed $300, this scenario complicates options for Qualcomm’s partners, forcing them to balance between hardware improvements and profit margins.

In this evolving landscape, Samsung emerges as a potential winner. With its 2nm GAA yield currently at a promising 50%, it is well-positioned to attract future orders from both Qualcomm and MediaTek, possibly increasing its foothold in the foundry market. However, Samsung’s historical reputation could hinder its attempts to establish robust dual-sourcing partnerships with these major companies, necessitating considerable efforts to restore trust.

For further updates on this topic, you can refer to the original source: Chosun

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