Qualcomm To Implement TSMC’s 2nm ‘N2P’ Process For Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Two Future Generations

Qualcomm is set to continue its tradition of innovation with the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 7 chipsets, both of which will reportedly be produced using the advanced TSMC 2nm process. This marks a departure from the previous 3nm technology utilized for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, as the company seeks to leverage the benefits of the next-generation N2P node, enhancing performance and energy efficiency.

Potential Dual-Sourcing Strategy Uncertainty

As Qualcomm moves forward, there remains speculation regarding whether the company will adopt a dual-sourcing strategy. While Samsung’s promising 2nm GAA process could serve as a viable alternative, recent reports have hinted that Qualcomm is focused solely on TSMC’s N2P technology for both chip generations. This strategic choice is underpinned by the expectation that the N2P architecture offers a 5 percent performance boost or power reduction at identical clock speeds compared to the prior generation.

The implications of these enhancements suggest that Qualcomm intends to maximize the processing power of its cores while ensuring that efficiency improvements are firmly in place. However, it is a bit unusual that Qualcomm has not publicly acknowledged potential collaborations with Samsung on these advanced chip technologies.

Interestingly, Samsung is poised to launch the Exynos 2600 within the Galaxy S26 series, marking it as the first System on Chip (SoC) to leverage the 2nm GAA process. A collaboration with Samsung could provide Qualcomm with greater leverage when negotiating pricing with TSMC for its N2P wafers, especially given the notable price increases anticipated for the new 2nm process.

The rising costs are significant; both Qualcomm and MediaTek previously faced a 24 percent price hike for their 3nm wafers. With TSMC expected to increase pricing by as much as 50 percent for the new 2nm node, this presents a compelling case for Qualcomm to consider a dual-sourcing manufacturing strategy to mitigate costs effectively. Such a strategy could also provide enhanced resilience against supply chain disruptions.

8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 7 are both N2P. Interesting

— reika (@reikaNVMe) September 28, 2025

In addition, Samsung has reportedly wrapped up the foundational design of its second-generation 2nm GAA node, known as SF2P, possibly opening the door for future cooperation with Qualcomm. However, until further confirmation is made, it’s advisable to regard these discussions as speculative and to await more concrete revelations.

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News Source: @reikaNVMe

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