Samsung’s efforts to secure 2nm GAA chip orders from Qualcomm for its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 have been well-documented. The Korean giant had previously been reported to have sent a sample to the company for evaluation purposes on its cutting-edge lithography, the same one used to mass produce the Exynos 2600. Now, Samsung appears to have caught a break because the latter has seemingly entered into talks with Qualcomm to manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a move that’s expected to benefit both firms as we discuss the details below.
Samsung’s partnership with Qualcomm to manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the 2nm GAA process could lead to a $470 million revenue generation in the near future
During the CES 2026 trade show, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told reporters that ‘among many foundry companies, we have started discussions with Samsung Electronics for contract manufacturing using the latest 2-nanometer process first. We have also completed the design work with the goal of commercialization soon.’ The Korea Economic Daily reports that if Qualcomm begins placing Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 orders on the 2nm GAA node, it would be the first time in five years that this alliance will be rekindled.
When Samsung was first reported to have commenced the mass production of the Exynos 2600 on its 2nm GAA technology, the estimated yields were at 50 percent, which isn’t an ideal figure, but there is immense potential for improvement. The company has also secured a multi-billion-dollar deal with Tesla worth $16.5 billion for its next-generation AI6 chip, along with fulfilling 2nm GAA orders for two Chinese cryptocurrency equipment manufacturers. Its 4nm process, which struggled with poor yields before, has also managed to ink a $100 million deal with a U.S. AI firm.
All of the aforementioned deals are indicators that Samsung’s newer and older manufacturing processes have stabilized to the point where its customers’ faith can be restored in the company. Moving forward, Qualcomm’s flagship chipsets are expected to get incredibly expensive, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro rumored to be pricier than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which was already estimated to cost a jaw-dropping $280 per unit. Details shared by @jukan05 state that Samsung will allocate 10 percent of the capacity secured at its Hwaseong S3 fab for the production of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
One interesting bit is that Samsung has reportedly priced its 2nm GAA wafers at $20,000 to undercut TSMC, whose 2nm wafers cost a whopping $30,000. This significant price gap should enable the Korean foundry to secure more customers, while also generating approximately $470 million from Qualcomm’s orders in the near future.
News Source: Korea Economic Daily
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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