Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, Built on Samsung’s 2nm Node, Might Power Galaxy S26

A few weeks ago, a report suggested that Samsung will produce Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip using its 2nm node for the 2026 Galaxy foldable devices. It looks like Samsung has made significant progress in its development and may be able to integrate the chip into the Galaxy S26 series. If true, this could be a big win for Samsung’s foundry business, which has been struggling lately.

Qualcomm is testing the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip on Samsung’s 2nm node

Qualcomm is gearing up to launch its flagship mobile AP chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, on September 23. Like the previous generation, TSMC will manufacture the chip using its advanced 3nm node. However, there’s chatter that the American chipmaker is also developing a more advanced version of its flagship chip under the project name Kaanapali S.

According to a report from Business Post, Qualcomm is conducting mass production tests for the next-generation mobile AP Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 using Samsung’s 2nm process. The chip may enter the mass production stage in the first quarter of next year. This suggests that Samsung is close to securing a deal with Qualcomm to produce 2nm mobile processors.

More importantly, the report says that the Kaanapali S could power the Galaxy S26 series, which may launch early next year. Samsung is reportedly planning to adopt a dual-chipset strategy for the Galaxy S26 series — either Exynos 2600 or Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, depending on region. Since Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 is built on a 2nm process, the company may want to use Qualcomm’s 2nm version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 instead of the 3nm version.

It will be interesting to see if Samsung can make that happen or if it will push the plan to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, which may launch in the second half of 2026. Speaking of 2nm development, its yield has recently exceeded 40%. Samsung will need to improve it further so that yield reaches at least 60% and mass production can begin as planned.