Qualcomm has confirmed plans to refresh its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor using Samsung Foundry’s 2-nanometer manufacturing process, validating months of industry speculation about a shift away from exclusive reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. for parts of its flagship chip production.
Speaking during CES 2026, Qualcomm Chief Executive Cristiano Amon said the company had engaged Samsung early on advanced manufacturing. He stated that Qualcomm “began discussions with Samsung Electronics first regarding foundry production utilising the latest 2-nanometer process” and that design work had already been completed with commercialisation in mind.
The current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is produced on TSMC’s N3P process, a 3-nanometer-class node that offers incremental performance and efficiency gains over earlier generations. Chips built on that process are used in recent flagship smartphones, including devices such as the OnePlus 15.
Qualcomm has not disclosed detailed specifications or timelines for the Samsung-produced version of the chip. However, industry sources cited by local media estimate that Samsung Foundry could account for around 10% of future Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 output, suggesting a limited but strategic diversification of manufacturing partners.
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Reports indicate that the Samsung-built variant, referred to as SM8850s, is expected to appear only in a small number of devices. Analysts say the chip is likely to power upcoming foldables such as the Galaxy Z Flip8 and Galaxy Z Fold8, rather than being used across Samsung’s broader flagship lineup, including the Galaxy S26 series.