Samsung Foundry Secures Major Qualcomm Order for 2nm Chips
Samsung Lands Key 2nm Customer
Samsung Electronics' foundry division has secured a major manufacturing order from Qualcomm for next-generation 2nm mobile processors, according to sources familiar with the agreement. Qualcomm will use Samsung's SF2 process with gate-all-around (GAA) transistor architecture for a portion of its Snapdragon 9 Gen 1 chipsets, expected to enter production in late 2026.
The deal is a significant win for Samsung Foundry, which has struggled to compete with TSMC for high-volume orders at advanced nodes. Samsung's 3nm GAA process, introduced in 2023, suffered from lower yields than TSMC's competing N3 node, causing several customers to shift orders to the Taiwanese foundry.
Why Qualcomm Split the Order
Qualcomm has historically used TSMC as its primary foundry partner. The decision to dual-source at 2nm reflects both commercial and strategic considerations. Reducing dependence on a single supplier mitigates supply chain risk, and Samsung reportedly offered competitive pricing to win the business.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said at a tech conference that "diversifying our manufacturing base is a strategic priority." He did not name Samsung directly but said the company is "working with multiple foundry partners on next-generation nodes."
Samsung's 2nm Technology
Samsung's SF2 process uses second-generation GAA nanosheet transistors with improved channel width variability and backside power delivery. The company claims a 25% performance improvement and 20% power reduction compared to its SF3 (3nm) node.
Samsung has invested 33 trillion won ($24 billion) in its foundry business over the past three years, including a new fabrication complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, dedicated to advanced logic production. The Pyeongtaek fab is expected to begin 2nm pilot production in early 2026.
Competitive Implications
TSMC's 2nm process, N2, is also scheduled for production in 2025-2026. TSMC has said Apple will be the lead customer for N2. The competition between Samsung and TSMC at 2nm will be closely watched, as it could determine foundry market share dynamics for the rest of the decade.
Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said the Qualcomm win "gives Samsung Foundry the credibility it needed at 2nm. If yields are competitive, more customers will follow." Samsung Foundry currently holds approximately 12% of the global foundry market by revenue, compared to TSMC's 62%.
