Samsung Looks Set to Produce 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for Galaxy S26

A few days ago, a report claimed that Qualcomm is conducting production tests for its Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip using Samsung’s 2nm node. It looks like Samsung has successfully passed the test and secured the deal with Qualcomm. If true, the upcoming Galaxy S26 series may feature the 2nm Qualcomm flagship chip. More importantly, this will be a big win for Samsung’s foundry division as it has struggled to beat TSMC in recent years.

Samsung Foundry will reportedly make Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chips using its 2nm node

Qualcomm is reportedly planning to launch two versions of its flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip — one built on a 3nm process and the other on a 2nm process. The company plans to introduce the 3nm variant, manufactured by TSMC, in September 2025, which several OEMs are expected to use in their premium devices in the coming months.

As for the most advanced version, a well-known tipster, Digital Chat Station, claims that Samsung Foundry will produce the chip using its 2nm node. The tipster also mentioned that the packaging cost is lower, suggesting that Qualcomm could get better margins when selling the chip to device makers. This could be one of many reasons Qualcomm chose Samsung Foundry over TSMC for manufacturing the 2nm version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip.

As far as the launch is concerned, Qualcomm may unveil its most advanced 2nm chip next year, according to the same tipster. An earlier report suggested that mass production could begin in the first quarter of next year. So, there is a possibility that the Korean firm may integrate the chip into its next-generation Galaxy S flagship lineup. If successful, this would allow Samsung to demonstrate the real-world performance of its 2nm node, potentially helping to attract major clients to its foundry business.

There’s also chatter that Samsung is planning to equip the 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 processor in its 2026 foldable models. We should learn more about this in the coming months as development progresses. Meanwhile, Samsung is focusing on improving its 2nm process yield, which the company will use for its upcoming Exynos 2600 chip as well.