Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM, XETRA:QCI) is in talks with Samsung Electronics to produce its next-generation 2-nanometer (2nm) chips, CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed at CES 2026, signaling a potential boost for the South Korean tech giant’s foundry business after years of lagging behind TSMC.
Amon told reporters that the firm has started discussions with Samsung Electronics for contract manufacturing using the latest 2-nanometer process, adding that Qualcomm has completed design work with commercialization planned in the near term.
The exact chip model remains unconfirmed, though industry sources suggest it could be the Snapdragon 8s Elite Gen 5, an iteration of Qualcomm’s flagship mobile processor.
Samsung’s foundry unit has struggled in recent years, facing technical delays and production issues that previously affected Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. TSMC maintained dominance due to higher yields and advanced transistor technology, prompting Google and other customers to shift away from Samsung.
Recent breakthroughs, including Samsung’s second-generation 2nm process (SF2P) and the launch of the Exynos 2600, signal a potential turnaround. In July, Samsung secured a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla for AI chips, highlighting renewed interest in its advanced nodes. Co-CEO Jun Young-hyun described these contracts as a stepping stone for a “big leap forward” in the division.
At CES 2026, Qualcomm also showcased the Snapdragon X2 Plus, its latest entry-level PC processor, alongside a robotics initiative targeting humanoid robots, as part of a broader strategy to diversify beyond smartphones.