Samsung-Made 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 on Track, OEMs Express Interest

Earlier this month, a report suggested that Qualcomm had cancelled its plan to launch the Samsung-made 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip. However, it looks like the plan is still on track, as a noted tipster refuted those claims. In fact, several OEMs are closely watching the chip’s development, suggesting increasing interest in the upcoming 2nm flagship chip.

Qualcomm’s 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip is still in development

Qualcomm is all set to launch its flagship mobile chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, this September. Unsurprisingly, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, will manufacture the chip using its 3nm process. However, the American fabless semiconductor company is also reportedly planning to introduce a Samsung-made 2nm variant of its flagship chip in early 2026.

While there were rumors that Qualcomm had scrapped that project, a recent report suggests otherwise. Well-known tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo said that the 2nm Qualcomm chip is still in development. If true, OEMs will have the flexibility to choose the Qualcomm chip manufactured by either TSMC or Samsung Foundry for their devices.

Interestingly, brands appear to be leaning toward the Samsung variant due to its lower price. “Because the price of the set is much lower, some manufacturers are waiting and watching,” the tipster noted. Whether Samsung’s chip can deliver better performance and power efficiency than TSMC’s remains to be seen. If successful, the Korean firm could attract several clients, helping it bounce back in the foundry market during the 2nm era.

Samsung is actively working to improve heat management and performance in its 2nm process. It has even delayed mass production of its 1.4nm process from 2027 to 2029 to focus on perfecting the next-generation node. Meanwhile, it reportedly plans to begin mass production of its 2nm Exynos 2600 chip in the second half of this year.

The upcoming Galaxy S26 series will feature the Exynos 2600, at least in select markets. Of course, the flagship lineup will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip as well, but it’s unclear whether it will feature the 2nm or 3nm variant. Things should become clearer in the coming weeks — stay tuned.