The world of smartphone chips is always a hotbed of innovation and competition. For the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, we assumed that TSMC would produce all units using its 3nm process. However, rumors recently surfaced involving an unexpected player: Samsung. Now, a reliable tipster backs up the leak and adds a juicy tidbit: the 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 variant produced by Samsung would be cheaper than TSMC’s 3nm version.

Samsung’s 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip promises more power for less cost

This tidbit comes from Digital Chat Station on Weibo (via Jukanlosreve). They claim to have seen the Samsung-made chip up close. According to the tipster, this 2nm variant reportedly carries the model number SM8850s, distinguishing it from the TSMC-produced SM8850.

What truly catches the eye here is that producing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 on Samsung’s more cutting-edge 2nm process could be more cost-effective than on TSMC’s 3nm process. This is quite notable, as typically, more advanced process nodes have higher initial production costs. After all, there are new technologies and complexities involved. This unexpected cost advantage, if true, could hint at Samsung Foundry potentially pursuing aggressive pricing strategies. It might be a deliberate move to try and regain market share in the fiercely competitive semiconductor manufacturing landscape.

Release not yet confirmed

While the chip could potentially launch next year, its final arrival on the market is not yet confirmed. The tipster has not heard which specific brands might adopt this variant. However, it is plausible that we could see this Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 appear in the Snapdragon-powered models of the 2026 Galaxy S26 series. It could be the ‘for Galaxy’ variant of next year’s Snapdragon flagship SoC.

This development, if it materializes, could shake up the chip manufacturing scene. A more advanced process at a lower cost could give Samsung Foundry a significant boost and offer Qualcomm a compelling alternative for its flagship mobile platform. It is a space worth watching as the next generation of smartphones takes shape.
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Source: ndroidheadlines.com