Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 may be made in part by Samsung

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6: Samsung Joins TSMC in Potential Manufacturing Talks

The highly anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and its Pro variant, expected to launch later this month, might see manufacturing duties shared between TSMC and Samsung. While previous reports heavily favored TSMC as the sole foundry, a new Korean report suggests Qualcomm is actively considering a dual-source strategy.

This potential collaboration hinges on recent improvements in Samsung's 2nm production yields. While Samsung's yields are reportedly around 55%, still trailing TSMC's 60-70%, Qualcomm is said to require a minimum of 70% for large-scale manufacturing. Discussions between Qualcomm and Samsung are reportedly underway, covering crucial aspects like specifications, pricing, and process optimization. However, the exact production share for Samsung remains undecided.

A key driver for this potential dual-sourcing is the concern over TSMC's production capacity. With Apple reportedly securing over half of TSMC's targeted 2nm capacity for the fourth quarter of this year, Qualcomm may face challenges in guaranteeing sufficient volume. Samsung's potential involvement could serve as a vital backup, ensuring Qualcomm can meet demand for its next-generation flagship processors.

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