Facing a near 50% TSMC wafer price hike, Qualcomm and MediaTek test Samsung’s 2‑nm foundry for chips, signaling a shift in mobile SoC production from 2026.
© D. Novikov
The semiconductor industry is edging toward a major shift. Recent reports indicate that Qualcomm and MediaTek are considering moving production of their future 2‑nm chips to Samsung’s fabs. The motivation is clear: TSMC plans to raise wafer prices for its 2‑nm process by nearly 50%, a jump that is difficult for any designer to absorb without eroding margins.
TSMC remains the market’s pace‑setter, yet its pricing strategy is beginning to squeeze partners’ profitability. In this context, Samsung—already ramping mass production of its own 2‑nm Exynos 2600—looks increasingly compelling as an alternative. Rumors suggest Qualcomm is testing a version of its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 produced at Samsung’s facilities, while MediaTek intends to introduce its first 2‑nm chip in 2026. That kind of pricing pressure rarely goes unnoticed by top fabless clients, and test runs are a pragmatic way to keep options open.
If the tie‑ups move forward, it would be one of the most significant realignments in chip manufacturing in recent years. For Samsung, it is an opening to consolidate its foundry ambitions; for Qualcomm and MediaTek, a way to rein in costs and protect the economics of their platforms. Such a pivot would also signal growing confidence in Samsung’s 2‑nm capabilities—an undercurrent that could subtly reshape the competitive balance in advanced nodes.