Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S25 series tomorrow, and all models will be equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipsets. It’s reported that all markets will receive Snapdragon chipsets, with the Exynos 2500 being dropped, allegedly due to low yield rates. The situation at Samsung Foundry hasn’t changed much, but it may improve over time, with potential enhancements in the Exynos 2600 and future chipsets.
That said, Samsung will likely release the Galaxy S26 series with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. If the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2-equipped Galaxy S26 series doesn’t launch globally, it may still be available in select markets. Speaking of which, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset is expected to be manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm N3P fabrication process. And a new report hints at progress.
TSMC could manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, not Samsung
Gamma0burst (via tipster @Jukanlosreve) shared some interesting tidbits on the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 development. According to this, “KaanapaliS” refers to the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (SM8850) chipset, which was previously linked to Samsung’s production, while “KaanapaliT,” now confirmed, is believed to indicate production by TSMC.
The lack of “KaanapaliS” in the logistics data suggests Samsung isn’t making the SM8850 anymore, as previously rumored. This likely means Qualcomm has moved all production of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 to TSMC. It could be probably because TSMC offers better yields and efficiency, making it the top choice for high-end chipsets.
There are also rumors that the 2025 Galaxy S26 series could see a price increase. Reports suggest that Qualcomm is planning a significant price hike for its Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 processor. While it’s not clear yet, whispers also indicate that the chipset might be manufactured using a 2nm fabrication process.
