Samsung, according to New Daily, has completed the development of a 2nm version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and has already submitted test samples to Qualcomm for evaluation.
If Qualcomm approves the new architecture, Samsung will be able to replace TSMC's current 3nm N3P process, which is used to produce Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon chips, marking a significant step in the competition between the two leading semiconductor manufacturers.
Samsung has previously struggled with heat dissipation and a low percentage of suitable wafers for manufacturing its flagship Snapdragon chips (the 888 and 8 Gen 1 models), but the new technology is expected to address these issues. If successful, Samsung could break TSMC's monopoly and secure new contracts, while Qualcomm will have an improved 2nm flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that will compete with the Apple A19 Pro, which powers the iPhone 17 Pro.
Snapdragon's 2nm chips are expected to deliver higher performance, reduced heat generation, and improved battery life, especially for compact devices where power efficiency is critical.
According to NotebookCheck, moving Qualcomm's chip production to Samsung's factories will help the latter better align hardware components and reduce costs, but Qualcomm's licensing fees to Samsung will remain in effect.