On April 22, 2026, the media reported that Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon personally visited Korea and held talks with Samsung’s leadership. The topic of the meeting was 2-nanometer chip production, and there is a real chance that the future flagship processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will be manufactured at Samsung Foundry facilities. If that happens, it will mark Qualcomm’s first return to Samsung in four years.
Why Qualcomm left Samsung and when it happened
To understand the significance of the current negotiations, it is worth recalling the background. Until 2022, Samsung manufactured Qualcomm Snapdragon series processors. But serious problems with usable chip yields and systematic overheating forced Qualcomm to move production to Taiwan’s TSMC.
This change had a direct impact on consumers: smartphones using Samsung-manufactured chips often overheated under load, which reduced performance and shortened battery life. TSMC solved both problems — and Qualcomm remained loyal to the Taiwanese partner for four years in a row.
What changed: Samsung restored its 2nm reputation
The situation began to change in 2025–2026. Samsung Foundry made significant efforts to solve the chronic problems of its manufacturing process — and judging by the results, it has achieved substantial progress.
The key proof is the successful launch of Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chip on the 2-nanometer GAA (Gate-All-Around) process. This confirms that Samsung can maintain stable yield rates at the most advanced manufacturing level. In addition, Samsung has already signed agreements to manufacture 2nm chips for Tesla, and AMD and Google are named among potential clients.
Against the backdrop of this success, TSMC has significantly raised manufacturing prices — which has made diversification even more attractive for Qualcomm.
What is known about Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6
Two chips instead of one
According to authoritative sources and tipsters (including Digital Chat Station on Weibo), Qualcomm is preparing two versions of the flagship processor at once:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (codename SM8950) — the standard flagship version
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (codename SM8975) — a premium version for “Ultra”-class smartphones
Both models will receive a 2+3+3 CPU configuration and an Adreno 850 GPU. The Pro version is also rumored to support ultra-fast LPDDR6 memory.
2nm process and advantage over Apple
The main technical innovation is the move to a 2-nanometer process. This is a significant leap compared with the current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is manufactured on TSMC’s 3nm N3E.
Analysts predict that TSMC’s 2nm N2P node will provide:
- About 18% higher performance compared with 3nm
- More than one-third lower power consumption
- Significantly better on-device artificial intelligence performance thanks to more efficient NPUs
Notably, Apple plans to use the standard TSMC N2 2nm process for its A20/A20 Pro chips (iPhone 18 smartphones), while Qualcomm is targeting the improved N2P — which theoretically will provide an advantage in clock speed.
What exactly Samsung would manufacture — and whether it is definitely Gen 6
There is an important nuance here that analysts are pointing out. Even if the negotiations are successfully concluded, Samsung will most likely manufacture not the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 in the usual sense, but a separate chip on its own 2nm GAA node (the SF2P process) with different internal coding.
PhoneArena уточнює: «навіть якщо Samsung і виробить якийсь чип для Qualcomm — він навряд чи носитиме ім’я Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6». Це може бути версія для специфічних ринків або продуктових ліній, поки основний Gen 6 і Gen 6 Pro залишатимуться на TSMC.
According to current rumors, both flagship variants — SM8950 and SM8975 — will be manufactured on TSMC N2P. Samsung, meanwhile, will remain a “backup” or alternative option for part of the production volume if the deal is concluded.
Why Qualcomm needs Samsung at all
A production diversification strategy is not just a backup plan. It has very specific advantages for Qualcomm and, ultimately, for the smartphone market.
Reduced dependence on TSMC. The Taiwanese manufacturer is effectively a monopolist in producing the most advanced chips. Any disruptions — geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, shortages — directly hit the entire smartphone industry. Samsung as a second manufacturer is insurance.
Lower chip prices. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 costs about $280 per unit in wholesale procurement. Gen 6 Pro will be even more expensive due to the 2nm process. Competition between manufacturers can theoretically restrain price growth.
Impact on smartphone prices. More expensive chips → more expensive flagships. If Samsung can offer a competitive manufacturing price, that will help keep the cost of top Android smartphones within reasonable limits.
When and in which smartphones to expect Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6
By tradition, Qualcomm announces its flagship processor in September–October. Accordingly, smartphones powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will appear on sale in late 2026 to early 2027.
Among the potential flagships that will be the first to receive the new chip:
- Samsung Galaxy S27 series (Standard and Ultra)
- Xiaomi 18 Ultra
- OnePlus 14 Pro
- OPPO Find X9 series
- Next-generation Vivo X300 Ultra
The Pro version of the chip is rumored to be reserved exclusively for “Ultra”-branded models because of its higher cost.
Conclusion: what this means for smartphone buyers
For the average smartphone buyer, the negotiations between Qualcomm and Samsung are news from the “kitchen” of the industry that rarely becomes public. But their consequences are very noticeable.
If Samsung becomes a co-manufacturer of flagship Snapdragon chips, that will be healthy competition for TSMC and will help restrain prices. If Samsung fails the negotiations or does not confirm the expected quality, Qualcomm will remain with TSMC, and prices for flagship smartphones will continue to rise.
For now, there is no official confirmation of the deal. The Qualcomm CEO personally came to Korea — and that is more eloquent than any official statement.
In brief: the key facts about Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Samsung
- Negotiations are ongoing: Qualcomm CEO Amon is personally in Korea, discussing production on Samsung 2nm
- Two chips: SM8950 (Gen 6) and SM8975 (Gen 6 Pro), 2+3+3 configuration, Adreno 850 GPU
- Process: TSMC 2nm N2P (main versions) + possible Samsung SF2P for separate chips
- Expected advantage: +18% performance, -33% power consumption compared with the current Gen 5
- Announcement: September–October 2026, smartphones — late 2026 to early 2027
Article prepared by the TechVisor team — practical IT media for people.
