Qualcomm, the main producer of cellular processors, is testing prototypes of its next-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips, which will probably be primarily based on superior 2nm course of Technology. The corporate has requested each Samsung Foundry and TSMC, two main chipmakers, to provide samples of 2nm chips and can resolve which to associate with primarily based on efficiency and yield outcomes.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips are anticipated to enter mass manufacturing in late 2025 and energy flagship smartphones in 2026. 2nm course of Technology guarantees vital enhancements in efficiency, energy effectivity, and chip dimension over present 4nm or 3nm processes. Nonetheless, the 2nm course of additionally poses challenges by way of technical feasibility and price.
Qualcomm has adopted a multi-fab technique to scale back the danger of counting on a single provider to fabricate its chips. The corporate has beforehand labored with each Samsung and TSMC for its Snapdragon chips and lately ordered a prototype 2nm chipset from every of them. Prototype tasks, also called multi-wafer tasks (MWP), contain constructing a number of chip designs on a single wafer and evaluating their efficiency and yield potential.
In accordance with sources, Qualcomm will examine outcomes from Samsung and TSMC and select the one that gives the very best quality and amount of 2nm chips. A choice is predicted by the tip of this 12 months after a prototyping section that might take six months to a 12 months. Sources additionally stated Qualcomm could cut up its orders between Samsung and TSMC relying on market demand and provide situations.
Each Samsung and TSMC are competing to safe orders from Qualcomm in addition to advance their very own 2nm course of Technology. Samsung has introduced that IT plans to mass produce its 2nm chips in 2025, utilizing its Get-All-Round (GAA) Technology, which improves transistor construction and efficiency. Alternatively, TSMC additionally stated IT will start mass manufacturing of its 2nm chips in 2025, utilizing its FinFET Plus Technology, which will increase transistor density and efficiency.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips would be the successors of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips, that are anticipated to launch later this 12 months. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips will probably be manufactured by TSMC, utilizing its 3nm course of Technology, and can function upgraded CPU and GPU cores. Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips will energy next-generation Android flagship smartphones, such because the OnePlus 13 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely.